Author's Note – This is where everything gets interesting and a reunion of sorts.
Howard – Yeah, it could have but after everything they'd been through choice in life partners pretty much isn't that big a deal anymore. Elves didn't frown on them, (look at Elrond who was a half-Elf and was highly respected) but they didn't encourage them either.
Exiled – when was Buffy's live ever simple? grin
CPTSkip – you'll start to see the changes later on, because they will be making some changes to Middle-Earth! Right now we're wrapping things up about their arrival and B/W & F's relationship
Thanks to everyone else for being patient
Chapter TenNorthern banks of the River Isen
10 Ethuil (April 7th), SA 1
Buffy woke up, yelling "WILLOW!" and it took a minute for Buffy to figure out she wasn't lying in a bed, but she was sleeping in her cold tent in the middle of a snowstorm. Her body was covered with sweat and she was short of breath, and Buffy wasn't sure why she'd dreamt about making love to Willow. Ahh, it's probably because my body's trying to tell me something. Too bad it wasn't real, I'd rather be in a warm bed with them both right now. Buffy thought wistfully.
Buffy saw light coming through and peeked out her tent, seeing only a great white snowfield. Dressing warmly, Buffy headed towards what her map said was the White Mountains in the distance to the South. Packing her things and her tent up, Buffy didn't seen any sign of her pony and sighed, It would have been nice, but I guess not. Buffy thought as he shouldered her backpack and weapons, grateful she'd thought to bring snow shoes as she started walking towards the distant mountains.
White Mountains
32 Ethuil (April 29th), SA 1
It had taken her almost four weeks to get to the White Mountains with all the interruptions of bad weather, Orcs and other odd problems, but she could finally start searching for the demon's lair. The first two places she checked were empty of anything except bats and bugs, so with some hope Buffy hoped that number three would be the charm as he made her way into the cave.
Stopping at the high cave entrance, Buffy saw tracks on the ground, but noticed that none of the animals had actually gone into the cave and instead had veered wide of it. That alone spoke volumes, but as she walked into the large cave mouth and started walking Buffy noticed the floor of the cave had been rubbed smooth as something slid along it for years until it became smooth as glass.
As she continued on deeper into the mountains, the cave narrowed until it was only large enough to let a car through instead of a Mack truck and as she looked around as she walked around Buffy noticed some places where the walls were burnt black by fire. When she finally stopped at the end of the tunnel, Buffy saw that it was now partially blocked by rocks that fell from the roof.
Something glistened on the floor and Buffy stopped, kneeling down and after moving a few medium sized rocks found a black scale was what had caught her eye. Turning the scale over and then back, Buffy looked it over but had no clue what this could be from but it was the smell of sulfur in the air that made her think she might be close…
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Sachiko cursed whatever god had caused the freak snowstorm that forced them to find shelter and it had taken some time to dig themselves out of the huge piles of snow. Between that and traveling on foot Sachiko knew they'd lost valuable time.
Sachiko watched as Kitara returned from scouting ahead and walked over towards her.
"Good news and bad news, boss." Kitara said as she walked up to Sachiko. "Good news is, Buffy headed inside a cave in the mountains not more than a little while ago."
Sachiko felt a headache coming when she heard just half of the news. "And the 'bad' news?"
"Something BIG lives around here, maybe inside the cave. Not far from here I found a huge pile of bones from cows, horses, sheep to name a few of whatever else its eating and Buffy's tracks lead straight in there."
Sachiko was about to say something when she felt the hair on her arms suddenly stand up and a cold shiver ran down her back. Without thinking about it, Sachiko grabbed Kitara and pulled her down with her to the ground and lay flat as 'something' big flew over them. Whatever it was it was big and fast, but it's headed right towards the mountains where Buffy's decided to go 'exploring'.
Kitara looked at Sachiko with a questioning look on her face. "What was that about?" Kitara asked more curious than upset after getting dragged into a huge snow drift.
Sachiko scanned the skies looking for whatever it was when she saw something circling high in the sky. Pulling out a small pair of binoculars, Sachiko looked to the sky and almost dropped them as she saw what it was before it dove down and disappeared a moment later. "Oh shit! Oh SHIT! OH SHIT!!" Sachiko cursed, shoving the binoculars back into their holder on her hip.
Closing her eyes, Sachiko took a deep breath and centered body and mind. "Okay, we've got big problems. That thing that flew over us? It's a dragon and guess where it was headed? I need you to go as fast as you can and catch up with Buffy, hopefully she stopped to take a piss or something and you can reach her before the dragon finds her. I'll call Aiesha and let her know what's going on and Mai-Lin and I'll catch up with you. Go!" Sachiko watched as Kitara just nodded before running towards the cave. "Good luck and stay safe." Sachiko said quietly before grabbing the mirror and activating it with the 3 drops of water.
It seemed to take forever before Aiesha's image finally appeared in the mirror. "Aiesha, we have problems from Hell going on. Buffy's just walked into a dragon's lair. Get everyone here yesterday or you're going to be short 4 Slayers." Sachiko dropped the mirror into the black velvet bag, ending the conversation even as she tucked it away and readied her weapons just as Mai-Lin returned.
"Trouble?" Mai-Lin asked, already knowing the answer as she shrugged off her own backpack into the snow and strung her recurve bow up.
"The biggest." Sachiko answered as she waited for Mai-Lin to finish getting ready. Both women took off in quick run towards the mountain cave where Buffy was.
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Aiesha sat in shock at Sachiko's message before jumping up, her robe falling off her body even as she ran into the bedroom to grab her clothes that were scattered about the room. As she pulled on the last of her clothes Arhilion stirred and woke.
"Melethron?" Arhilion asked sleepily as he saw Aiesha dressing quickly.
"Gotta go. I'll tell you later." Aiehsa said, giving Arhilion a kiss on the lips, "Love you!" And Aiesha ran out of her home and to Faith's house.
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Faith heard something ringing loudly and reached out to turn the alarm off only to realize there was no alarm clock and as she recognized the alarm bell that was to be rung only in the direst of emergencies. Sliding out of bed, Faith quickly dressed before shaking Willow and pulling the blankets off. "Red. Get up." Willow just rolled over and pulled the blankets back over her. Grabbing the pitcher of water on the nightstand, Faith dumped the water over Willow's head and watched her jump up sputtering even as she had a look that'd kill on her face. "Get up! Trouble!" Faith said before kissing Willow on the lips and leaving.
Faith walked to the center of their town where she could see about half the town was gathered already. Pushing her way to the front, Faith saw Aiesha, Rainne and Yi-Min talking even as two girls were helping dress Rainne and Yi-Min in their armour.
"Aiesha, what's going on?" Faith asked, worried now.
"Chiko just checked in, Buffy's walked into a dragon's lair." Aiesha blurted out.
"Mother... Okay, where and how far and how to we get there before it's too late?" Faith asked Aiesha just as Willow ran up and slid her arm around Faith's waist.
"We need a Gate, but a smaller one and it's too far to ride. Buffy's all the way down by the White Mountains, about 250 miles from here." Aiesha explained.
Rainne saw the look of fear and then anger of Faiths' face. "Faith, we've got 200 Slayers ready to move in the next 30 minutes. She'll be okay when we get there."
Faith was about to yell for someone to go get her armour when she heard Rainne speak up again. "Faith, we sent Charlie to get your armour and weapons and bring them back." Nodding her thanks, Faith took a few deep breaths to try and stay calm in front of the Slayers. She felt a tug on her shirt and Faith saw it was Willow who nodded reassuringly before walking over to Aiesha and those of the Coven that were here so they could begin to prepare to cast the Portal spell.
Faith started cursing as she was pacing and waiting for her armour and weapons to arrive, the minute she'd waited having been already too long a delay in getting to Buffy.
White Mountains
Same Day
Buffy climbed over the partially blocked entranceway and into a cavern the size football stadium. A large section of the ceiling inside the cavern had collapsed, letting the sunlight in just enough to see. Buffy started walking around carefully, looking for signs of the Fire Demon when she saw an odd shaped rock. Kneeling down Buffy touched it and it rolled over to reveal a skeletal face and Buffy realized the 'rock' was in fact a large helmet and just a few feet away Buffy saw a headless body in armour. Taking a moment, Buffy slid her pack off, leaving it by the wall hidden in the shadows even as she readied her weapons.
Moving forward slowly and cautiously, Buffy caught sight of a large mound of something large and shiny. As she walked closer silently, Buffy saw the 'something' was a large mound of gold and silver coins, gold cups, gems and other valuables. But Buffy also saw more skeletal bodies of dead men in armour. Well this doesn't look like a demons' lair, if I didn't know better... But Buffy never finished that thought as something swooped into the cavern from the opening in the ceiling far above her. Quickly, Buffy moved away from the mound and into the deep shadows.
Buffy held back a gasp as a massive black scaled head and snout first appeared over the mound of gold, sniffing about before the rest of the creature slowly made its self visible. Oh, you have got to be fucking kidding me here! Buffy cursed mentally when she saw what it was that lived here and it wasn't a Fire Demon, although to the Orcs there wouldn't be much of a difference. Both dealt out fiery death quite well.
The massive scaled body moved slowly as it moved around looking to find a spot to settle in even as the wings were outspread reached to both sides of the massive cavern. All in all, Buffy had to admit, this one made the ones she'd read about in stories look like babies in comparison. From snout to tail, Buffy guessed the dragon had to be over 100' feet long with a wingspan easily twice of that and the head and mouth could easily swallow Giles' car and barely need to chew. But it was the slitted, gold eyes that Buffy found the most unnerving thing about the dragon, it seemed that they could see right into her and chilled her to the bone when they passed over her.
Frumgurund made himself comfortable even as he looked around his lair. He could smell one of the race of Men in here with him, he also sensed the Power inside this one as well. "So, little crunchy one. Why have you come to my lair? Was it the thought of gold or glory that brought you to your death today?" Frumgurund asked even as he moved his head around looking for the stranger.
Buffy bit back her surprise as the Dragon spoke out loud to her. Realizing not answering could be as bad as answering Buffy decided to answer. "I was looking for a Fire Demon, but you're not it."
Frumgurund swiveled his head around his eyes piercing the darkness and the Protections that were woven into the cloak she wore. "So, you have come looking for a fire demon and not Frumgurund's treasure." The dragon said doubtfully, even as it tried to figure out what it was that had come to his lair. She smelled like one of the race of Men...but not. It was very confusing to Frumgurund. "Then why not leave if my treasure is not what you seek or could there be another truth to this story of yours?"
Buffy felt a deep cold settle into her as the dragon's gaze past over her each time with its' golden eyes. Stepping to her right and behind a large rock Buffy pulled the cloak over her again, praying that whatever Will did to this cloak would keep her hidden. "Nope, no other truths here." Buffy said before moving again in the shadows and around the dragon.
"Liar! You may not smell of greed, but you saw the signs and entered my lair anyway. Tell Frumgurund the truth and maybe I will let you live."
"Sorry about that Frummy, but somehow I don't think I can take your word. You don't seem to be the truth-telling type of Worm. Now, if you were a dragon instead of an earthworm, well things might be different." Buffy said, quickly moving to another spot before the dragon could bring his head around.
"YOU DARE COMPARE FRUMGRUND TO A MERE DIRT EATING VERMIN!" Frumgurund roared and the cavern shook with his rage.
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Sachiko, Mai-Lin and Kitara arrived at the partially collapsed entrance just in time to hear the dragon roar and yell.
"I can see Buffy hasn't lost her touch for getting her opponents pissed off." Kitara said dryly.
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Sniffing, "So... Your 'friends' have come to help you. I may not be able to find you, but they have no such protection and I will enjoy sucking the marrow from their bones..." Frumgurund said as he moved his body closer to the entranceway.
"No!" Buffy whispered and realized her mistake just in time to jump backwards and avoid the tail that slammed into the spot where she'd been standing, shattering the stone.
With a speed that Buffy didn't think was possible the dragon whirled around to face her, it's sharp 4' long tail spear hovering over its head and its wings outspread.
"Foolish whatever you are! You have given your hiding place away and Frumgurund will feast on your bones for dinner! Many years has it been since I tasted the flesh of Men." Frumgurund said even as he narrowed down where the girl was hiding.
Buffy saw two arrows fly out of nowhere, hit the dragons' neck and bounce off as if they'd hit steel plate and the dragon's head turned to look behind at who had attacked it. Jumping up next to the dragon Buffy brought her sword down on the dragon's neck with all her strength only to see her sword hit the neck scales and leave a small dent. Jumping backwards suddenly Buffy narrowly missed being impaled by the 4' foot tail spear that sank into the hard stone floor…
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Sachiko saw both of Mai-Lin's arrows hit and bounce off the dragons armour. Grabbing Mai-Lin who was nocking another arrow, Sachiko pulled her backwards and tumbled down just as a gout of fire shot through the opening, melting the rocks all around where Mai-Lin had stood a moment ago.
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Buffy saw the dragon was still occupied with her friends, even as it fought to free its tail from where it hit sank into the stone. Taking aim at the thin part of the tail, Buffy swung hard and saw the broadsword bite into the spot where the tail spear ended and get stuck, waving its armoured tail about black blood spilled out. Another hard tug and Buffy was thrown back 20' feet as the dragon ripped his tail free along with a large section of stone.
Buffy heard the dragon roar in pain and rolled to her left behind a medium sized stalagmite. "Sachiko, if that's you then GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE NOW!" Buffy yelled as she jumped up to her feet and came around front to get the dragons attention only to run right into the side of the dragon's head. Swinging her sword down, Buffy hit the left nostril and black blood exploded into her face. Buffy barely dodged the snapping jaws, shoving her broadsword into the dragon's mouth so that the sword was wedged to keep the dragon from closing its mouth unless it wanted to impale itself on the sword in its mouth.
Angrily the dragon whipped its head around as Buffy held onto the sword and tried not to get thrown off. The dragon may not have been able to bite her, but that didn't stop her arm from getting sliced up on the dragon's razor sharp teeth as she was holding on for dear life. Finally Buffy saw the dragon was going to try and pry her off with a claw and when the dragon shook its head Buffy let go of the sword before flying halfway across the length of the cavern to land hard even as she tried to tuck and roll. Blood flowed from her nose and her right arm as Buffy got to her feet and ran to the shadows to try and hide as she tried to figure out what to do next.
Something distracted it and Buffy heard the dragon roar angrily again, turning around before breathing a giant ball of flame at something. Looking around for something to use as a weapon, Buffy found saw something glowing with a blue light a few feet away. Glancing back, Buffy saw the dragon was still preoccupied by something else and moved over to see what the glow was.
Stuck in the stone floor, point down Buffy saw an unusual looking bastard sword and grabbed the large hilt with both hands, there was a sudden jolt as she touched the hilt and then she was pulling hard to free it from the stone it was trapped in only to have the sword slide out easily.
Buffy heard the dragon roar in pain and ran towards the dragon with her new sword. Just as she reached the dragon Buffy had to dodge to her left to avoid being crushed in a foot stomp by one of the dragon's back feet.
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Sachiko didn't have time to mourn Mai-Lin, she was too busy trying to avoid getting stomped on by a very pissed off dragon. Sachiko saw the dragon rear back and open its mouth and jumped for the large boulder that lay 10' feet away. A giant gout of flame scorched everything where she had been standing and completely melted the sword that been stuck in its mouth. The ground and wall where the flames hit now looked like black glass.
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Buffy came up from the roll to her feet and brought the glowing blue sword down on the dragon's tail and to see black blood fly as she cut through the scale and into the dragons' tail. Unfortunately that got the dragon's attention and Buffy saw the dragon's long neck twist around and it peered down at her. "Shit!" Buffy cursed and dodged to her left barely avoiding the dragon's mouth that snapped shut where she'd been just a moment earlier. As Buffy rolled to her feet, she saw the dragon turn around completely and focus its attention on her.
The dragons' front feet came down on either side of her as it reared back and opened its jaws impossibly wide. Running towards the dragon, Buffy felt something sear her back and a rush of burning air that threw her into the dragon's body. Thrusting her sword forward, Buffy saw it punch through the plate mail like scales and into the dragon's chest, but Buffy didn't have time to savor that as she had to avoid another double foot-stomp and ran to get around behind the dragon.
Buffy went to lean back and screamed in pain as her back touched the stone. "God, that hurts. Shit!" Buffy said as she realized she was hurt worse than she thought. Buffy's nose was assaulted by the stench of burning meat and realized the dragon had killed someone. A cold anger burned through her at that knowledge and Buffy looked out from behind the boulder and saw the dragon looking around for her. With the dragon's head turned away Buffy leapt out and swung the sword at the dragon's leg, hoping to cripple it and cut deep only to feel something leathery hit her and throw her into a wall. Dazed, Buffy barely held onto her sword as she hit the floor and fought to move from where she landed.
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Sachiko saw Buffy go down and charged the dragon, her sword hitting the dragon on the snout and close to his eyes, but just missing the eye itself as her blade sparked when it hit the dragons' scales. Out of the corner of her eye Sachiko saw something big right before she felt something hit her and found herself flying through the air to land hard high on the cavern wall.
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Buffy saw Sachiko try and distract the dragon only to get hit by one of its wings and thrown back high in the air. Ignoring how stupid her little voice was telling her this was, Buffy ran towards Sachiko and caught her before she could hit the ground head first, using her own body to cushion Sachiko's fall. "OOOPH!" Buffy groaned as she had the air knocked out of her, but got up and pulled Sachiko behind some cover before the dragon could take advantage.
Sachiko looked up from the ground where she was lying. "That was stupid Buffy." Sachiko said weakly.
"My problem, not yours."
The boulder shuddered as the dragon brought his tail down like a club down once and then twice and the boulder cracked like an egg before the third blow shattered it completely and Buffy saw she and Sachiko were left exposed.
Grabbing her sword once again, Buffy needed to get the dragon's attention and keep it so she charged the dragon, dodging to her right to avoid one foot stomp. Brining her sword around for a hard swing Buffy sliced the dragon's leg open only to see the tail spear a second too late as it impaled her in her right shoulder. Screaming in pain, Buffy felt herself being lifted up even with the dragon's head and she held onto the sword.
"So little crunchy one. You have lost and I will feast on your bones this night."
With that Buffy felt the dragon move her above its head and opened its mouth. "NOT. THIS. FUCKING. NIGHT!" Buffy yelled as she pushed herself forward off the spear to land balanced on the dragon's open jaws and thrust the sword point down into its left eye. But before she could do anything, Buffy felt something slam into her and throw her across the cavern and into the wall before falling another 10' feet to land face down onto the ground.
Everything hurt and Buffy found she couldn't see out of one eye as she tried pulling herself into a sitting position just in time to see the dragon heading towards her right before there was a bright explosion near the dragon's body that threw it sideways and into the cavern wall. As it hit, the rocks and stalactites fell from the cavern ceiling… Falling over, Buffy felt hands touching her head, but she couldn't see who it was there was only a feeling of safety before she felt the darkness pull her under...
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Faith had caught Buffy as she fell over and gently lowered her to the ground, Faith saw the blood and bruises and burns all over Buffy. "You rest B, you done good. Now it's our turn." Faith said to Buffy who had finally passed out from her injuries.
Faith saw the dragon get up only to get hit by 3 more blasts of white lightning that arced from Willow's hands, each one throwing the dragon into the wall with more force than the last only to be followed up by a flight of arrows, some of which bounced off the dragons armour, but still more pierced the dragon's hide. "My turn," Faith said as she picked up the sword Buffy clutched.
Five Slayers ran towards the black dragon as it suddenly avoided a blast of lightning and launched its massive bulk forward and towards the new attackers. The dragon opened its mouth and a large ball of flame engulfed the first girl, another was crushed by a foot stomp that left a bloody stain. While 2 more were blown backwards as the dragon's wings created gusts of wind that sent small flying objects flying like daggers from the mound it slept on, the last Slayer either through luck or skill attacked the dragon with the spear she was wielding and forced the dragon to back up to avoid being impaled.
Faith charged the dragon and more Slayers had managed to get inside the cavern but the tide had turned from their favour as the dragon attacked Willow and put her on the defensive, forcing her to choose between attacking it or protecting those she was with from the dragon's wrath.
Once she was close to the dragon, Faith saw that Buffy had hurt it, but as big and tough as this thing was it wasn't going to give up without taking them with it. Grabbing the closest person, Faith saw it was a Slayer she didn't recognize. "Get to Yi-Min, tell her to have her archers keep firing non-stop at the dragon. We need to keep it off balance and not give it time to think. K?" Faith saw the girl nod and dash out, narrowly avoiding a bloody tail spear before getting away.
Faith saw the bloody tail spear and knew what had hit Buffy in the chest now, counting to 30 Faith rallied seven other Slayers and when the count in her head turned to 29. Faith lead a charge towards the dragon only to see it whip its head around impossibly fast and open its mouth as a huge ball of flame shot out and Faith knew at that instant she was dead, only she wasn't. Pausing, Faith saw the flames had bounced off a shield around them. Way to go Red! Faith cheered only to see 2 of her group weren't so lucky and were caught outside the shield, their charred corpses lying twisted horribly.
Anger boiled in Faith's veins, these were women who'd survived the War, the Orcs and many of whom she knew, and this creature was killing them! "RRAAAA!!!" Faith yelled and charged through the shield that felt like she was pushing her way through pudding until she was out and up to the dragon. Dodging a foot stomp, Faith turned and swung her sword at a leg that showed 2 deep wounds already and her sword cut entirely through the dragons' leg causing black blood to spray all over and cover her. But all Faith wanted was to make this dragon pay, pay for hurting Buffy and killing her friends…
Faith heard the dragon roar and flap his wings and start to fly up. Black blood fell like raindrops from the open wounds as the dragon flew up towards the opening in the cavern roof. The warmth inside the cavern disappeared as the temperature plummeted suddenly and Faith could see her breath on the air only to see a dark spot falling towards her, Faith sprinted out of the way as the dragon came rushing towards her and hit the ground like a meteor, the shockwave picking her up and throwing her forward 15' feet.
Picking herself up off the ground Faith turned around and saw the massive impact crater where the dragon hit. Its wings were shattered and broken and it limped on a back leg, but still it refused to give in and die. An ear splitting roar shattered the cavern only to be interrupted as 100 arrows peppered the dragons body, finding chinks in the once near-impervious armour of its scales that were now broken and charred in places across the dragons' body.
"COME ON!" Faith urged the remaining Slayers as she charged the crippled dragon.
Slowly but surely Faith saw them push the dragon back as its body was pierced with arrows, several spears and swords were stuck in its hide and still it refused to give up. Finally, they were able to push the dragon back using spears that Phaer had 'loaned' them, those it seemed to fear more than their swords or arrows.
Willow floated down next to her and Faith saw the worried and determined look on her lovers face. "My turn now," Faith said before she moved up to the dragon, signaling the Slayers holding the dragon at bay to let her pass by.
Faith moved past Willow and up to the spearwomen before pushing past them as she walked towards the black dragon. "You've hurt the woman I love and you've killed and hurt my friends Dragon, now it's your turn!" Even crippled, the dragon was still fast as it brought its head around, opening its jaws and Faith saw the flames shoot out only to stop inches in front of her.
"Thank you Willow!" Faith said before closing with the dragon.
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Willow blocked the dragon fire from reaching Faith and saw her close with the dragon before running towards where she knew Buffy was when a cold feeling ran down her back
"Willow! Get over here, we're losing her!" Willow heard Sachiko yelling.
In a bright flash of light, Willow was across the cavern and by Buffy's side where two of the Healers were frantically working on Buffy. It was then that Willow got her first look at the bloody and broken body of Buffy. Buffy's right arm was slashed open deeply and in two places Willow could see the white of bone peering out. "Goddess no! Not now!" Frantically Willow felt the magical energy flowing beneath the mountains, tapping into it and using her body as a conduit to Buffy's to heal the worst of her injuries but there were so many; a cracked skull, broken ribs that pierced both lungs, the 2nd degree burns on her back. There were so many injuries that Willow wasn't sure where to start first…
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Faith brought the flat of the sword down on the dragon's snout and the dragon roared in pain, ducking under a claw, Faith thrust her sword into the center of the claw and smiled coldly at the dragon's roar of pain before pulling the sword out.
Starting with what seemed to be the worst, Willow first healed the skull fracture and then the pierced lungs and still Willow felt Buffy starting to slip away from them. Next, Willow moved to the deeper and more serious slashes on Buffy's body before finally healing the burns all over Buffy's back. When she was done Willow could still feel Buffy's life-force slowly slipping away from her. Desperate, Willow placed her hands on Buffy's chest, making a direct connection to Buffy and started feeding Buffy her own energy until everything started to turn grey around her. Refusing to let go of Buffy, Willow tried pulling Buffy closer even as someone was pulling them apart. Finally, Willow felt herself pulled free of her hold on Buffy and the connection shattered. "NOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Willow yelled.
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Faith heard the shout 'We're losing her!' before she yelled as she drove the dragon back as it fought to avoid her attacks until she finally left the dragon nowhere to run and as it reared back, Faith shoved the sword deep into the dragon's chest and into its heart. As she ripped the sword free in time to block a claw strike with the sword that was hard enough to push her back a step.
But then Faith saw the dragon's head droop and fall to the ground and lie still. The remaining golden eye dimmed and went dark and a moment later Faith heard the dragon breathe out one last time and then stop. That was when Faith heard Willow yelling "NOOOOOO!" and turned to see something going on over by Buffy. Turning and running as fast as possible, Faith was quickly close enough by Buffy to see 4 Witches holding Willow down and away from Buffy.
Willow saw Faith out of the corner of her eye, "Faith! She's dying and I have to help her!!" Willow yelled, desperate to get free and back to Buffy.
"Aiesha?" Faith asked as she walked over to check on Buffy first.
"She's alive Faith, but I can't tell you more till we get her back home." Turning to look at Willow who had stopped fighting, "Buffy started to slip away and Willow started feeding Buffy her own life-energy to keep her alive, that's when we pulled her off, otherwise Willow would have just kept giving her life-energy away until she was gone. She was so terrified she wasn't thinking straight, go talk to her, tell her Buffy's okay." Aiesha suggested.
Faith looked at Buffy more closely this time and saw the blood and tears all over her clothes, what little remained of them remained and realized she'd been too worried about the dragon to see how badly B had been hurt. Touching Buffy's forehead gently, Faith brushed a lock of hair out of Buffy's face before going over to Willow who had a wild-eyed look on her face.
"Will…Willow! It's okay, B's alive, you did it, but you have to relax." Faith said calmly as she took one of Willow's hands in her own. Seeing no reaction, Faith kept repeating it over and over until she saw Willow finally calm down as it got through to her.
"S-She's okay?" Willow asked hesitantly as she tried to sit up only getting halfway.
"Yeah, Red. B's okay and Aiesha's watching her. Now it's your turn to rest, okay?"
"Okay," Willow said, feeling exhausted as she let herself lean back. Closing her eyes, Willow was asleep in moments.
End Chapter Ten
SA - Second Age
Melethron - lover (Sindarin Elvish)
River Isen - large river 150 miles West of the Gap of Rohan
White Mountains - large mountain chain that runs East-West and lies on the borders of southern Rohan and northern Gondor apart.