Author's Thanks:
Darklight: Thanks. I am trying but now that things are picking up, it's getting more difficult to write. Trying to keep the balance between both realities and not let the BtVS group overwhelm them is hard. You know?
Brutal2003: Oh, yeah. Not only are they starting to gather, some of them are going to meet each other very soon. Unfortunately, they are also going to have a split, much like how it happens in the book. Then, well, things are really going to heat up. You'll see what I mean.
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Xander blinked his eyes, slowly opening them to the dim moonlight. In his right hand, he held Willow's and he squeezed is, shocked when he felt the pressure returned. "Giles," he croaked out. Clearing his throat, he tried again. "Giles!"
Sam heard him and jerked awake, blinking momentarily. Looking over, he could scarcely believe what he was seeing. Jumping up, he ran out and saw the group talking with a man he did not recognize. A momentary feeling of inadequacy overcame him but he pushed it aside. "Where is Giles?" he asked, not bothering to use his full title.
"Why?" Faith replied, not correcting him. It had taken them long enough to break the formality. She really didn't want to go back to that awkward place.
"They are awake."
Several heads whipped in the direction of the alcove where the two rested. Though Xander could barely lift his head and Willow's eyes were only slits, it was obvious they were awake. Rushing forward, Sam quickly intercepted them and held them off firmly.
"Not until Giles has seen to them. I will not allow you to burden them with your worries and concerns. They have been through enough," he said, not allowing their size to intimidate him.
"But," Gunn began.
"No," he firmly held his ground.
"Sam, this is important," Faith started to say when Oz's hand rested on her shoulder.
"Sam is right," he softly said. "If we burden them now, it may cause a regression. Sauron already has a hold on her, a few more minutes won't matter."
Giles came up behind them, eyes bleary with exhaustion and worry. He could tell that something had happened by the looks on their faces. "What is it? Have they taken a turn for the worse?" he asked apprehensively.
"They're awake," Oz said, moving to let the watcher move past.
The speed with which he moved through them surprised those who could feel the breath of his weariness. Hands moved rapidly over Xander, checking his wounds and how he felt before turning to Willow, giving her a much more gentle examination. Leaning back at last, he smiled for the first time in ages. "Willow," he greeted her, smoothing back her hair with a soft touch.
Blinking her eyes, they shifted to focus on where she could feel he was. It was hard to focus but she felt she needed to be looking in his general direction for this message. Oh, how she hated to be the bearer of bad news like this. "Dawn's in Mordor," she coughed out the words.
"That's not good," Oz muttered, grasping the implications instantly.
Thankful for perhaps the first time that she could not see him, Giles stared at her, mouth dropped in shock. Sheer horror was written across his face and he couldn't seem to wrap his mind around the news she had shared with them.
"I know," she whispered, "not what you wanted to hear." Her hand slowly crept towards his and shakily grasped it. "Sorry."
"Willow," he practically sobbed her name, pulling her into his arms. "You have nothing to be sorry for."
She felt the tears on her hair and snuggled closer, letting her warmth reassure him. "Don't cry, Giles. 'm fine. Xander found me and saved me. I'm going to be fine. You have to believe that 'cause I am going to get better."
Nodding, he just held her closer.
Faramir stepped back, feeling decidedly uncomfortable with what he saw.
It wasn't that he thought less of the man for his tears. In fact, he would have lost respect had the man not shown some emotion about this miraculous recovery. But there was something awkward in witnessing the sight of a stranger crying so brokenly.
Deep in thought, he almost missed Boromir joining him. "So, that is your Willow." At his brother's confirming nod, he said. "She is not what I had expected."
"What did you expect?"
"Someone like an elf," Faramir replied with a helpless, showing that he didn't know quite what he was trying to say. "Mysterious. Full of grace and power. An undeniable and indefinable beauty that transcends mere mortal sight. She is so helpless, frail, but there is a kind of cuteness about her."
Boromir laughed at that, a full-blooded laugh that caused tears to form in his eyes. "She hears that all the time-including from their enemies."
"What?"
"That she is cute," he chuckled, wiping away a few tears. It felt good to laugh again after so many days of sorrow. "I believe that was one of the first things I said to her. She said that 'appearances are all too often deceiving'. Then, she lifted me clean of my feet, suspending me upside down for a few moments."
"Really?" he asked, glancing back at the girl. Well, what he could see of her through the press of her friends, that was. She did not seem all that impressive to his eyes. Yet…"I do not doubt you for Sauron has his eye on her."
"I know," Boromir's voice was hard. "There is nothing we can do about that, even if we wish to."
"Who is this Dawn?" Faramir asked, feeling it best to change the subject. The look in his brother's eyes worried him more than he could say. What troubled him the most was that he could feel the anger within him as well. It was more than the girl, though that was a factor. It was the whole situation that angered his brother-and he did not like feeling this way.
"Trouble," Boromir answered flatly.
"Meaning?" he pressed, sensing there was more to it than a normal rebellious attitude.
Boromir ran a frustrated hand through his hair and glanced up at the nearly white canopy illuminated by starlight. "Oh, you know that I do not mean that she is a bad girl. She is not; Dawn is a good kid. Has a steady head on her shoulders, but…she is not real in the same sense that we are. Some monks needed to protect a mystical force and gave it form, mortal form, and a family to watch over her. Dawn is the Slayer's sister and possesses within her blood the ability to destroy the world."
"So, trouble."
'Yeah," he flatly agreed.
"And the Slayer?"
"Is the Chosen One," Boromir said. "She is one girl called in every generation to fight the forces of evil. Except that in Buffy's case there are two, Buffy and Faith."
"Why?"
"Is there two?" At Farmir's nod, he answered plainly. "Buffy died."
"She died? But then there should only be one."
"There should, except that Buffy was revived," he shrugged. "Do not ask me how, I did not understand what method they used when they described it to me. If you wish to know more, I would suggest you talk to Xander. He is the one who found her."
He nodded, "Why a girl?"
"Giles never told me," he said. "But I would imagine that it is because having a female warrior is less obvious than having a male warrior do it. Also, some of the methods that the Watcher's Council employs are…questionable."
Faith divided her attention between the brothers and the scene in the alcove. For a moment, she debated interrupting but decided against it. There was no point in denying his words. Nor did think that she could do a better explaining things than Boromir was doing. Words had never been her strong suit anyway, she was much more comfortable fighting.
Oz's voice broke into her thoughts. "We need to go to Mordor."
"Mordor?" she repeated blankly, though she felt that she should know the name.
"It is where Sauron works and lives," he elaborated. "Dawn is there."
Faith's eyes narrowed as recognition dawned in them. "Sauron? The same big bad whose cheesy Ring is causing all this trouble? The same guy whose sucking away our Will's soul? Oh, yeah. We're going and he's going down. Big time. And don't think we can't do it, Aragorn. We deal with Sauron and his kind all the time."
"I do not doubt it. Tomorrow we shall make our preparations to leave for Mordor. You are more than welcome to join us."
"Not soon enough," Faith flatly said. "Once I know that they're on the road to recovery, we're gone."
"You will not know the way," he protested, already knowing them for the futile words they were but knowing also that they had to be said.
"Head towards the heart of evil. I think we can find our way," she sarcastically quipped.
"Heart of evil? Sounds like home, pet."
Her lips quirked and she turned to face Spike, sharing the joke with him. Of all there, only he would find it amusing-and play along, even up the ante. "And it also provides our kind of entertainment."
"Sign me up. I could use a good laugh."
"I just heard the news," Angel said before she could reply to that. Gunn stood behind him, looking over his shoulder, a questioning look on his face. "What's going on?" he went on, knowing that something else had happened. Something bad.
"Dawn's in Mordor, so we're going to leave as soon as we know how Xander and Will are doing. Oz will stay to watch over them, so that Giles can rest and lead them to safety. If any still exists in this forsaken land."
"Faith, we may be without much hope but we are far from forsaken," Aragorn protested.
"I believe that," she said, giving him a hard look. "Do you?"
Rending through the space of the trees, an unleashed menace hit them all, bringing them to their knees in pain. Visions of power, of victory, of home, burned into their minds, a siren call to help, to claim the Ring as their own. Grasping their heads or wrapping their bodies, they tried to shut it out.
Shut it all out.
"What's going on?" Gunn yelled over the sound of Willow's agonized screams. He felt the press of something quite familiar in the air and it reminded him of how he'd felt when entering the offices of Wolfram & Hart.
It was the feel of pure evil.
"The Ring," Aragorn whispered, feeling Its icy fingers close around his heart and tighten about it painfully.
"What?"
Pushing back the agony-the temptation-he forced himself to repeat the answer. "The Ring, she has released It."
Faith pushed herself to her feet and entered the room, seeing the ghastly sight of Willow being crushed under the weight of the Ring's malevolence and vehemence. "Borrow my strength," she demanded, joining Xander and Giles.
"DO IT!" she screamed when Willow shook her head emphatically. "I freely offer my aid, my Slayer strength to yours."
"This is madness!" Giles yelled.
"We're going to die if she can't subdue it, watcher," she snapped back. "You need help, girl. DO IT!"
Instantly, the Slayer felt the fire of the power hit her and engulf her with an almost unbearable force. Within it, she could feel Xander-and her sister Slayer. The two Slayers merged their wills together and the five forced the Ring to bend to their wills.
Sauron's Ring subsided into an angry silence, feeling the strength leave It again. Growling under this new imprisonment, though It was no longer trapped, It reached out and touched the mind of the pathetic Gollum, calling to him to come and get his 'precious'.
Faith, Xander, and Willow came out of it, panting and shaking from their fight. "Thanks," she weakly said.
"Don't mention it," Faith waved off words. "You going to be okay?"
"Yeah," she softly said through a yawn.
"Buffy's here, did you know that?"
"She is?" Xander asked, shaking his hand. As bad as he felt for thinking it, he was relieved that the pressure on his hand had finally been alleviated.
"I felt her," Faith simply replied. "She helped us, but I couldn't find out where she was."
Giles nodded, stroking absently at Willow's sweaty forehead. "That is good to hear."
"Then Spike and I are off to Mordor," she glanced over her shoulder at the sound of a throat clearing, "With Angel," she added, with a twisted smile on her lips.
"Be careful," Giles advised, hoping they would listen.
"Take the fun out of it, why don't you?" she complained with a teasing frown. "I have no intention of doing any less, G. There are a few debts that demand payment. Payment that won't be made if we get ourselves killed."
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Glory fumed. The little Slayer and her mangy friends had managed to elude her.
Again.
Really, this was getting intolerable.
And what was worse, she was no closer to getting her Key back than she was at keeping her pathetic mortal form from appearing.
And, to top off that piece of injustice, she had nothing new to wear. "Bring me Tara!"
"You wished to see me, my Queen?" A demure young woman entered the room, dressed in a simple blue silk sheath. On her wrists, two silver bracelets jangled lightly as she clasped her hands and bowed, the anklets chiming as she dropped to her knees.
From where she stood, Glory studied the younger woman carefully. In soft waves, the simple power of the girl radiated off of her. A brilliant talent but wasted on the mediocrity of her family's whims; she had found her after an accident that had been caused by their neglect.
And the girl's own desire to cease to exist.
To be fair, she thought with a sour twist of her lips, it had been that wretched Ben who had actually come across her. Had saved her and brought her to safety, far from her family's not quite inconsiderable reach.
Still, Tara had made a welcome addition to her troop of followers. There had been something within her that Glory had brought out, had twisted into a perfectly forged weapon for her to use.
"My little witch, come close to me." She beckoned and watched the tawny haired woman stand up, slowly approaching her. "Closer, dear girl, I have no intent to hurt you for you have proved to be of invaluable aid to me."
Keeping her eyes downcast, she moved until she was standing right in front of Glory, murmuring. "I never thought you did for you have always shown me nothing but consideration and kindness. It is the deepest pleasure of my heart to help you. What it is that you wish of me, my Queen?"
As with every time before when she stood this close to her benefactress, the spine-tingling feel of Glory's essence left Tara feeling slightly breathless and almost sick with the power she exuded.
She adored it.
Eyes gleaming with satisfaction, Glory pulled her closer. Lowering her voice so that only she could hear her, she whispered sultrily, "It is not what I wish, my witch, it is what you wish that I want to hear. Tell me, dear, what it is that you most desire."
Biting her lip for a moment, Tara glanced at her through the corner of her eyes, debating her answer. Lips curling up viciously, she answered. "The power I am denied to get revenge on those who harmed me."
Quickly thinking, Glory nodded in satisfaction. It was what she had expected to hear-and she knew that while she couldn't give her that power, there was one who had it.
And would not need it once she was done with those who defied her at every turn. "You find a way to get us into Middle-Earth and all the power you desire shall be given to you."
Though she knew how hard the task would be, the idea that she would be able to make her family pay. To make the whole town pay for ignoring her needs, ignoring the wrongs they knew were going on, made her nod her head.
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Idis rode up; blood spattered and pulled the exhausted Buffy up behind her. They rode silently for a moment, recovering from the battle just ended. Behind her, some of her warriors had dismounted to take care of the gathered dead and to destroy the bodies of the fallen enemies. "I have never seen anyone fight like that. You possess great strength and skill for an outworlder."
"It is my birthright and my burden," she said in resignation. "Did they make it?"
"Your friends are safe."
"And the others? Did we buy them enough time?"
Idis nodded, touched by her concern. "My second reports that there are a few injuries but nothing life-threatening. Thank you for the help."
"No problem," she brushed the words off. "It's what I do."
"Why?" Idis asked. "I know why I do what I do, it is my history and my inheritance as the daughter of the king. But why would you who are so young choose to dedicate your life to this perpetual battle?"
Buffy thought for a moment, trying to find an answer in her jumbled up thoughts. The question was tricky for how did one explain the supernatural to one who seemed to know nothing of it for all that their enemies seemed to scream it? I wish Giles was here, she thought wistfully. He'd know what to do, what to say. Even Wesley would be good here.
"As I said," she began hesitatingly, "I am the Slayer. Giles said that our world began, not as a paradise, but as a world were demons ruled supreme until humans took over. After a time, they left the world to man, save for some who stayed behind. The Slayer was created to stop the forces of evil. I am one of the Slayers of my generation, usually there is only one called."
"That is quite a burden to place on the shoulders of one person."
"Girl," she corrected, absently and automatically.
"What?"
"The Chosen One, another name I bear, is always a girl."
Idis led them into a settlement. The wounded went to the right where a large building resided, surrounded by smaller ones. Though there was a flurry of activity, there was no chaotic or wasted moment about them. It revealed all to clearly that this was something they were used to, even accepted as a part of life's daily routine.
They turned to the left and rode to a building, which could only be the stables. Idis slid down before helping Buffy off, though she knew the girl did not need it. Taking the bridle in one hand, she led the horse inside and began to rub him down. Not knowing what else to do, Buffy followed her.
"I still believe that it is a heavy burden to place on one person." There was no condescension in her voice, which reassured Buffy. In fact, she detected more than a little understanding in the voice.
"I'm not actually in this alone. A few years back, I kinda broke the rules. I made friends and they found out about who I am. Instead of running away or denying the truth, they stood by my side. They still stand beside me and fight."
"Would Ripper-excuse me, Giles-be one of these friends you speak of?"
Buffy shook her head, flushing just a bit. "Not at first, he has a different place in my life. I met him after moving to Sunnydale. He's my Watcher, meaning that he trains me and gives me guidance. At first, I resented him because I was trying to rebuild my life and he represented a threat to that. Now, though, I can't live without him."
"You sound as though you love him," she softly observed.
"Of course I love him. Why wouldn't I?" The conversation ended when a woman Buffy didn't recognize entered and cleared her throat.
"My Queen, the visitors desire to know how their friend is doing." She informed them briskly, glancing curiously at the blonde with her Queen. With the gift of sight she sometimes possessed, she could see some unusual presence surrounded this girl.
It was intriguing-and a little intimidating when she recalled what she had heard of her actions on the battlefield. The woman was strong and slightly reckless. But never to the point of carelessness, she seemed to be always conscious of those about her.
"How careless of me!" Idis scolded herself, shaking her head in consternation. To her, this breach in etiquette was unforgivable. She would not lightly forgive herself for putting her own needs before the needs of others. Not only did she know better, she expected better of herself. "Please, go and reassure them of your well being. And forgive me for keeping you from them."
"There's nothing to forgive," Buffy said quickly. "I didn't think of them either, happy that I was talking to someone who understands the burden placed upon me and those who are like me. With the exceptions of my friends and Faith, it is rare."
Which was sadly true. Usually when someone found out, they either treated her with disdain or expected her to be flawless and perfect. To have no human failings and have no heart that connected her to her work. In other words, the perfect weapon for use.
"Still, I should have thought of them, not about satisfying my own curiosity. They saw the face of the enemy we fought, it is only right that you should have seen to them first. To assuage their worries and restore their sense of safety for you are all strangers in our lands. Go with Hilde to your friends. We will come to once I have seen to my people."
"Are we prisoners?" she asked.
The reality of their situation had finally hit her. They were in a land where they knew no one. They did not know where Giles and the others were. Even if they did, how would they find them? And for all the help they'd been given-and the way she had pitched in to help, they were still unknown to them.
"No," Idis replied, taking no offense at the question, though she could see the way Hilde bristled at the implication. She, unlike her fellow warrior, knew why it had been asked. It would be something she would have to talk to her about later. She would probably have to talk to all of her women about it.
In fact, she was surprised that it had taken so long in coming. "But I would prefer it if you would wait until someone has shown you around before exploring our home. There are a few defenses you should be aware of."
"I understand." Following Hilde, she noticed that they headed back to the large building she thought of as the hospital. Instead of going past it, they turned right and walked to the clearing that had a deep fire pit surrounded by log benches. Waiting on the benches, were her friends-except for Wesley, who seemed to find pacing a fascinating pastime.
"'Uffy!" a voice squealed and three heads whipped her way. Connor clapped his hands, pleased with how his announcement had excited people. Then he went back to blowing bubbles endlessly.
"You all right?" Wesley asked, cautiously approaching her. His eyes scanned her, relieved to find only minor injuries on her.
"Yeah," she sighed. "In fact, I feel ever so much better. You?"
"Better now that we're together again. I'm sorry about the landing. It was supposed to be a gentle transition, not a violent one."
"Don't worry about it. At least we have a chance now," she paused, suddenly very worried as a thought came to her. "Don't we?"
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Legolas sighed as he parted from his brethren. When the shockwave of the Ring's release had hit them, he had been bombarded with powerful images of decisively ending the feud with the dwarves by getting rid of the entire race.
Of finally having his father's esteem and praise after living in the shadows of his much more favored siblings.
Closing his eyes tiredly, he let out a deep exhalation and unconsciously mimicking a gesture he'd often seen Giles do, rubbed his eyes lightly. It had been all he could do to turn from that mocking, that tempting voice and refuse what It promised him. The thought had teased him, enticed him to just let go and do what he wanted.
Yet, he knew deep inside for the lie the Ring was telling him.
"Are you all right, lad?" Gimli's gruff voice asked.
Startled, he glanced to his left and noticed the dwarf sitting there, a concerned look in his earthy eyes. "The Ring," he faintly said, moving to sit down on the ground beside his friend. There was comfort here, he idly thought, comfort that his brethren knew nothing of.
He felt sorry for them.
"Aye," the dwarf softly agreed. "I felt It to. The visions that came to me are still haunting my mind in all their color."
"But wrong?" the elf asked, a hopeful sound to his voice.
The touch of Gimli's warm hand resting on his shoulder should have startled him. Or upset him in some way. The fact that it did not was both a comfort and a curse.
"Very wrong," Gimli agreed with him. "Death will not help our problems."
Leaning into the touch, Legolas sighed in agreement-and resignation. "I saw my father," he said into the silence.
Gimli tensed. The dwarf did not like hearing about the man who had imprisoned Gloin and the others. While the dwarf had let go much of the enmity that lay between their families, there was still some residual hanging on inside. Understanding, Gimli may be, but far from unemotional.
"Oh?" Though the word was as neutral as could be, there was a puzzled curiosity Legolas did not miss.
He appreciated Gimli's unwillingness to press him for more information, knowing of his personal discomfort in talking of his family and home life. Yet, he wished that Gimli would press him for more details. Just once, he thought with a touch of irritation, I wish that he would react with the typical dwarvish pigheaded heedlessness. That he would just rush into an argument or push him into talking about what was obviously painful to him.
As if picking up on some of his mood, Gimli squeezed his shoulder. "Do you want to talk about it? Or let it dance around, festering in your rather empty head, taking up the room in there necessary for other things?"
Glancing up through slanted eyes, Legolas shook his head. "I saw my father approving of me. As you know, he does not care for many of my…own quirks, for the fact that I prefer traveling abroad to staying home. When I set out for this meeting, my father gave me an ultimatum. Upon returning, I needed to settle down and begin a respectable life."
"Or?" Gimli asked in the ensuing silence.
"I should not even bother to come home," he sadly finished. The hand moved and he mourned the loss until it encircled his shoulders, drawing him into the earthy warmth that was Gimli.
Not trusting words, Gimli let actions comfort Legolas. The dwarf found the words to speak after a time of silence, knowing that they would be needed, no matter what thoughts dwelled in their minds. "Every child feels the need to please their parents while finding their own path. I think the task is that much harder for the youngest children. Do not despair, your father will come around."
"That was surprisingly sensible, for a dwarf."
"And that was quite a compliment, coming from an elf." The two exchanged smiles before settling down to enjoy the night. "Gimli?" he spoke again after a moment, idly twirling a branch in his hands.
"Yes?"
"I am glad to hear you called elf friend."
After a moment of thought, Gimli nodded, "As am I, lad."
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Cordelia's eyes went hazy for a moment, glancing off to the east. "That was disturbing," she murmured, before facing the dwarves. The conversation on the new gates and outer wall resumed with no further hitches. She had other concerns on her mind than the Ring's release.
Now that Sauron had lost this outlet, his attack upon Gondor would resume with a new ferocity. They would need to be up to the challenge of meeting it. There was no other alternative, for Beren would not allow it.
Nor would she.
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Sorry this part was so short but things are getting a little twisted and will be picking up speed soon. I promise. There's just a few things I need to research before continuing with the next part.