20. Never What It Seems

In the absence of love, there is nothing worth fighting for.
-Elijah Wood

Caras Galadhon Lothlorien June 21/ 31 Laire 2976 III Age

Buffy made her way to her rooms quickly and quietly, she had half an hour to change and pack. Now was not the time to worry about leaving Aragorn like this and so she pushed him to the back of her mind as she entered her bedroom.

She quickly made her way to her closets and pulled out her well worn pack. Deciding that her ranger clothing would be less conspicuous than her elven clothing she pulled out her well worn and lose leather pants and long coat and took them to her bed. Coming back to her closet she pulled out two long sleeved under shirts and three over ones.. Two were dark green and one blue. She dumped them on the bed as well and came back for her boots, bracers, underthings and thick leather riding gloves. She tossed them on the bed as well and made her way around her rooms quickly gathering up soap, a towel, her brush, several ties for her hair, and picked up the simple butterfly pendant that her parents had given her when they decided to foster her.

Moving more quickly since she knew she time was growing short, she stripped off her gown and tossed it over a chair. She grabbed an under tunic and put it on, followed promptly by her pants, dark green over tunic, and boots. Taking the remaining items, aside from her long ranger coat, bracers and gloves, she packed them expertly in her pack.

She picked up her bracers and coat and put them on as she moved across the room to where she kept her weapons. She moved first to the her large knives, a gift from the gwenyn and strapped them to her back followed by her quiver. She then began to strap her sword to her hip. The belt itself held another knife sheathed to it as well as a pouch that could hold enough lembas bread several days as well as a few bandages. She then added a sheathed knife to each boot and her bow finally.

Satisfied that she had all the weapons she would need she turned and looked at herself in her large mirror. She still wore her circlet and necklace. Moving to her dressing table she took both off and sat them there. Arwen would see that they were put away when she showed up in a few hours. Her hair was still pulled firmly back and she thanked Arwen and her incredible skills for that.

Turning again she took in her room. Her pack was almost full and she realized that she needed only one more thing. Entering her closet again she grabbed her cloak and pulled it around her, securing it as she strode across her room and picked up her pack, gloves, and necklace before heading to the door.

She mas almost to the stables within minutes. The city was still empty as she entered the stables to find her parents and Gandalf waiting. Her horse Beriadan was saddled and waiting, he whinnied as she entered and she knew that he could feel the tension. He never ceased to make her feel better though. He had n unusual personality for a horse and she was glad that she had named him after Xander.

Gandalf waited off to the side for the three of them to say their farewells. Smiling a her adar took her pack from her and went to strap it to Beriadan's saddle she turned to naneth.

"I wish I could stay longer."

"As do I. But the Valar have chosen your path and I sense that it is far different than the one we first thought it." her naneth said as she enveloped Buffy in a hug.

"That's what I'm afraid of naneth." Buffy replied into her naneth's warm embrace. Galadriel stepped back as her adar approached.

"Do not fear pen vell. All will reveal itself in time. Trust your instincts for they will guide you to where you must be." (dear one)

Buffy nodded and smiled at her naneth before turning to her adar and opening her right hand to reveal her Wilwarin necklace. Her adar saw it and smiled at her as he took it.

"I first put this around your neck when you became our daughter and the Wilwarin of our people as Arwen is the Undómiel."

"And I would have you put it around my neck again ada." Buffy replied as she smiled up at the only real father she had ever known. He leaned forward and clasped it as he pulled her into a hug.

"Ada, be gentle with Aragorn when you tell him I have left. I love him but my destiny must come first. Do not hate him ada, we do not chose who we love." Buffy whispered to her father and pulled away. She looked over to find Gandalf already on his horse and moved to mount Beriadan.

Sitting on top of the large stallion she looked down at her parents one last time before saying "Le melon." and following Gandalf out of the stable at full speed.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.

It's the luck of the draw
How you wound up with me
You don't know how at all
But I beg you to stay
Crawl around on this earth
While the world's still small

Honey don't think
About it too long now
Honey don't think
You're liable to figure me out

Something wrong in my stars
Could you look at my chart
Help me healing these scars
Could you learn to read minds
In the case of mine
Do you read in the dark

Honey don't think
About it too long now
Honey don't think
You're liable to figure me out
You don't wanna figure me out
You don't wanna figure me out
Don't wanna lose

Honey don't think
About it too long now
Honey don't think
You're liable to figure me out

Honey don't think
About it too long now (about it too long now)
Honey don't think
You're liable to figure me out

Honey don't think
About it too long
-Honey Don't Think-Grant Lee Buffalo

The sound of the birds in the trees brought his contented mind from its sleep slowly, his mind and heart much content with the state he knew he would be in when he rose. The night before had been more glorious than any dream and he knew that today would be much the same.

Or so he thought.

He first became aware of Buffy's lack of warmth beside him within heartbeats of first consciousness. Sitting up abruptly he realized that she was gone. Taking a deep breath he realized that she must have gone to her own rooms to prevent any gossip about them. Looking out the window he realized the lateness of his rising and moved from the bed to dress. It was time for their daily ride and Buffy would be angry if they were late.

He quickly made his way down to the stables to meet his friends and love. Upon entering he was met with a scene that he did not expect.to see.

The Lord of Lothlorien stood debating with an obviously upset Arwen as Legolas stood beside her with a look of both anger and concern on his face. Noticing immediately the lack of both Buffy and her horse he interrupted.

"Where is she?" he demanded.

Celeborn looked at him with an impassive face. "She has gone to meet her destiny."

Arwen spoke up "Where? When? And why did she not tell us?"

"She left last night and I know not where. The need arose suddenly."

Realizing that she wouldn't have left without even a word and that Celeborn was hiding something Aragorn stepped up to the Lord.

"You are hiding something and I would know what it is."

"My daughter has a destiny far greater than even you son of Arathorn. She has gone to meet it as she must. If she returns to us it will be by the will of the Valar. She does not fear it or hide, but faces it. Do not assume that her love for you rules her. She will follow her path as so should you if you wish to have her." Celeborn replied harshly before turning and leaving the stables.

The three stood in silence as his words rang in their ears. Buffy was gone and may never return but if she did Aragorn knew that he had but one choice. He would have to be worthy of her in the eyes of her family. But his anger flared. She had left like a thief in the night with out word to him. Her love for him would never surmount her duty, a fact that he both admired and hated.

A hand on his shoulder brought him from his thoughts as he looked into the eyes of his closest friend. They were full of understanding and good intentions and for that Aragorn was grateful. He knew what he had to do and it meant leaving his friend and foster sister. He couldn't stay here, not with every breath of air here reminding him of her.

"I leave at dawn tomorrow old friend."

Legolas nodded his understanding before leaving him to his thoughts.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I hear some distant drumbeat
A heartbeat pulsing low
Is it coming from within
A heartbeat I don't know
A troubled soul knows no peace
A dark and poisoned pool
Of liberty now lost
A pawn an oppressors tool
Oh my heart be strong
And guide when eyes grow dim
When ears grow deaf with empty words
When I know there's life within
A gunfire shatters silence
Where birds once sweetly sang
A mother cradles a child now dead
Now death where life began
- Breaking the silence -Loreena McKennitt

It was getting late and they had not stopped or slowed down since before dawn. Neither of them spoke and for the silence of the wizard Buffy was grateful. It gave her time with her thoughts and for her to see the harsh reality of her situation with Aragorn.

She loved him with all she was but it wasn't that simple. One day he would be king and if she stayed with him he wold expect her to marry him and become queen. A thing she did not want, to be queen would be to be trapped in a cage forever. Forever under the scrutiny of others she would spend the rest of her life playing the part. Doing it for her parents for short periods of time wasn't that but they understood what she was and so did her people.

But if she became queen then she would never have that freedom. And that was something that weighed heavy on her. But there were other things as well. Her family and her destiny were the other two. Her family did not approve in the least. She was immortal as they were and they felt her place was with them. One day her entire family would sail to the Undying Lands and if she was to survive what was to come they would leave her. She would lose her family again.

But that was if they didn't lose her first.

Her chances of survival were minimal at best and she knew it. While she was the slayer that didn't mean that she would survive what ever it was that she was about it face. After all, if her parents feared for her it was no small thing she was about to go in to. But her naneth told her to trust her instincts and she would. They were leading her to this.

Her musings were ended by Gandalf pulling his horse up and Buffy followed suit. Without a word they made camp and within an hour both were asleep. Gandalf had made no attempts to speak and so neither did she. He would speak when he was ready to.

After all, one couldn't force one as old as Gandalf to speak.

Being with the elves had taught her some patience finally after all.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"There is one rule, above all others, for a man. Whatever comes, face it on your feet."
-al'Lan Mandragoran-Wheel of Time series-Robert Jordan

Old Forest July 10/ 50 Laire 2976 III Age

Buffy had ridden with Gandalf for over two weeks and yet he had said nothing about what she was to face. They had spoken of other things, trivial things at night by the fire occasionally. But of what Buffy was to face he wouldn't say a word. Buffy was more than frustrated about it but she couldn't beat it out of the wizard even if she wanted to.

She sat waiting in the house of a man she knew of but had never met. Tom Bombadil was a strange little man to say the least. He was her height and seemed to be simply a funny old man who dressed strangely. But he was more than that and Buffy could feel it. He was powerful and he was old but any more than that she just couldn't tell.

She had apparently finished with dropping off her stuff and getting cleaned up faster than the old wizard.

But apparently not that much faster because both he and Tom entered the room at that moment and sat in the chairs facing her. Both studied her for a moment before Gandalf spoke.

"Dagnir, what I am about to place in your care is both powerful and dangerous. It is the third ring. For many lifetimes of man I have been its keeper but have never worn it. Now it seems that the Valar have decreed that you be its bearer. I do not need to tell you what this means do I?"

Buffy looked the gray haired old wizard in the eyes and spoke "No you don't. But this is the jist of it. It makes me a target and not just to Saurian but from everyone. And its powerful and if I can't control it a mass amount of bad could happen. Oh not to mention that its an Elven ring and I'm not actually an elf despite the fact that now I apparently have elven blood in m veins. So this ring could either get me killed or kill a bunch of people or both."

Gandalf nodded to her. Now that he knew that she understood the gravity of what she was being given he would give it to her. Pulling a small cloth bag from his robes he handed it to her.

Buffy opened the bag and turned it over. A large ring fell out. It didn't look like the ring from her dream at all except for the deep red stone. It was simple in style, three long ovals of worked silver with a deep red stone in the center. It reminded her of the eye of Sauran himself. It made her nervous as she held it in her hand but she refused to back down.

Looking up into Gandalf's eyes she steeled herself and firmly clasping the ring in her fingers slid it onto the middle finger of her right hand.

And then everything went completely dark.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Gandalf started as Buffy suddenly slumped forward in her seat as the ring went onto her finger. Pushing her up quickly he went to remove the ring from her hand, only to feel Tom's firm grip on his shoulder.

"Do not remove it. She sleeps. Her trial shall begin soon. It will take much time. We must get her to a bed."

"Her trial?"

"She is not of the Eldar as she said. Narya will test her to see if she is worthy."

"And if she fails?" Gandalf asked

"She will die." Tom replied looking at the small woman before him.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"So here's the part where you make a choice"

Buffy blinked as she opened her eyes to the light. She was standing in a room she never thought she'd see again. She was standing in the middle of the training room at the Magic Box facing her double.

Her copy looked the same as she always did and yet somehow she didn't seem out of place here. She smiled and Buffy was slightly taken aback as she realized that this wasn't a dream. This was something different.

"What happened?"

"You put on Narya the ring of fire. You are not of the Eldar and must prove yourself worthy to me."

"And just who are you?" Buffy asked her doppleganger

"I am Narya." she replied simply

"You're the ring?" Buffy asked slightly disbelieving

"Yes"

"How?"

"I, like you, am much more than I seem." Narya replied with a small smile.

"Meaning what exactly?"

"Meaning that Saurman did not know what he created when I was forged. None know, save you. And should I find you unworthy I will destroy you."

"Well if that isn't motivation I don't know what it. So what you look at my life and tell me if I'm good enough?" Buffy stated. This was really not what she had expected. Taking a ring was one thing but potentially having the ring itself kill you was quite another.

"That is part of it. But only the beginning. You must learn from this."

"Great you're gonna go all Wise Master on me aren't you?" commented dryly.

"Perhaps." Narya replied with a smirk

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Buffy felt like they had been watching for hours as her entire life went on before them. It was really odd to see everyone after all these years. It was like they were standing outside of everything and it was slightly creepy. But now that it was finally over Buffy just stood there waiting on Narya to decide.

Her copy turned to her and looked her in the eyes. Her face was totally impassive as she studied Buffy.

"Make your choice. Are you ready to be strong?" she said, repeating back Buffy's own words from just before the battle with the First

Buffy looked at her. She had passed. Now all she had to do was learn.

"I am." she said simply and Narya smiled.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Old Forest March 5/ 33 Coire 2978 III Age

Gandalf looked down at the small woman on the bed. She had been like this for over a year and a half now and showed no change. An red glow surrounded her body, keeping her alive and from what Gandalf could tell healthy. She didn't need food or water and yet she remained unchanged.

Tom said that she would be this way for a while yet and not to worry but after his last trip to Rivendell he was getting worried. News of Buffy and Aragorn's love for one another had made its way to the ears of the house of Elrond and none seemed in the least pleased about it.

And Aragorn had apparently been taking Buffy's apparent disappearance badly. There was much tension in the Last Homely House of late and until things could be changed it did not appear as if it would go away.

Gandalf sighed. This was not what he had been expecting when he had first began having the dreams about Narya's new bearer.

He looked down at Buffy once more and noticed something that shocked him. The ring had changed shape. No longer was it a simple silver ring with a long red stone but something indefinitely more beautiful and more intricate.

The band was split in two still but insted of the two bands crossing they stayed the same. The top of the ring began with a tiny silver ball from whichi two pieces extended. They curled around the now circular stone and ended with vine like swirls that faced out. The ring was definitely more feminine now and beautiful. But Gandalf did not understand why it had changed or how.

"It has accepted her. She will live. Now she must learn to use it." Tom said from the doorway.

"But why has it changed?" Gandalf asked

"Can you not feel it old friend? They draw power from each other. It has drawn enough from her to do something unimaginable. It has freed itself from the one ring. They can only be separated by death now."

Gandalf was speechless. One of the rings was free! Could this small child really have that much power in her? It implications were astounding. He knew of her purpose here but it seemed that the Valar had decided to change her destiny.

"They didn't chose this for her Gandalf. Narya chose her. She carries in her the blood of another ring bearer. Narya felt her and chose her own master. It seems that in the ring that everyone thought so little of there is more than meets the eye."

"Indeed" Gandalf replied. There was much to think on and Tom sensed his mood and left him to it.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX