CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN: SEEING RED
Buffy, the sons of Fëanor, and the rest of her Household remained in Lindon for two weeks before returning to Lindecoa. The brothers were most anxious to go back to their realms in northern Beleriand, but they understood that the Slayer had things to tend to before she would willingly depart Ossir. They had all planned to make the long journey together.
It was now time for the Slayer to get her life back on course. Her unexpected absence had put a halt to all her preparations regarding the upcoming battles in Middle-earth. Buffy had lost her momentum, and it was imperative that she get it back. Despite her embittered feelings towards the Valar, she was not about to forsake her mission in this world.
Illyria plagued her thoughts more so than Morgoth of late. She was eager to pay another visit to her daughter's lands in the east, but knew that Maglor would be most displeased if she took off so soon after their wedding. Instead, she sent out her doves to spy on Illyria and to check in with Brolach and his clan. She feared for mankind and was deeply concerned with how she could possibly assemble an army big enough to defeat her demonic daughter's legions of monsters.
The Slayer also had to give thought to the evil doppelganger that was lurking somewhere within the confines of Arda. It brought her no comfort knowing that she could be raising hell somewhere, leaving Buffy to suffer the consequences of her double's actions. However, she could not focus her attention on that at the moment. There were more pressing issues at hand, such as Folkvang. The Slayer knew that she had to return to her mystical realm soon, but the difference in the movement of time made her hold off on doing that as well.
Right now, Buffy needed to work on herself before even contemplating any of her other plans. It seemed like it had been ages since she had last trained for combat. While she had endured Morgoth's rigorous physical therapy sessions in Angband, she had not worked on her slayer skills at all. Before she could take on any of her foes, she would have to be able to master her own body - the greatest of her weapons. That led to daily, strenuous workouts with her husband, brothers-in-law and the warriors of her Household. It soon became clear that she lacked the intensity and agility that she had had before her imprisonment. The Slayer's number one priority was mastering her own strength.
Luthor's attempts at cornering Buffy alone seemed to be impossible; she and Maglor were inseparable. He was anxious to hear about all that had transpired since they had last seen each other, but preferred speaking to her alone. After much coaxing, he was able to get the Slayer all to himself.
"I cannot stay much longer," he announced as they headed to Buffy's private chamber that contained her Mirror. "Dvalin is beside himself by now, I'm sure. I have sent some of your messengers to notify him of our whereabouts, but his mind will not be eased until I return."
"How are the dwarves doing?" she asked as they climbed another set of stairs. "Do we have any babies yet?"
"Indeed!" laughed the Maia. "I take it that was your intention all along."
"Just thinking ahead. It's that whole two birds, one stone thingy," reasoned the Slayer. Luthor gave her a curious look. "Female dwarves work as fervently as the males, plus they bring forth life, thus increasing my army of immortal dwarves. See, two birds, one stone."
"I see," he replied with a nod. "That's rather clever of you."
"Not really. Everyone wants some good old-fashioned lovin'. The dwarves are no exception."
The Maia studied her carefully as they walked. "You've been having visions, haven't you?" he asked, his blue eyes fixed on her.
"Yes, indeedy," she answered. "I am a Vala after all. I should have the ability to see some things."
"When did you start getting them?" inquired Luthor.
"When I got my powers back. I haven't told you about that, have I?" she queried. The Maia shook his head. She told him about Nestor's dream, the mystical pool and re-uniting with her powers. "I mean, it's not like I can see a bunch of stuff, I just get bits and pieces here and there," added Buffy.
"Sounds reminiscent of what you experienced in Folkvang… " he commented.
"Pretty much, except they're not all morbid visions," revealed the Slayer. "I've seen good things. You know, happy stuff."
Buffy unlocked the door to her chamber. They entered the sparsely furnished room. "So that's the infamous Mirror, I take it," remarked the Maia as he inspected the basin on its marble pedestal. "How does it work?" he asked. The Slayer explained to him how, but was very reluctant to give him a demonstration. "Why won't you show me how it works?" he asked when he saw her hesitancy.
"I'm afraid Morgoth will see me if I use it," she replied with a sigh. "He's seen me in it before and that never leads to anything good." She placed her hand on the rim of the bowl. "I've actually been thinking about destroying it. I fear one day he'll come jumping out of it or something."
"If Melkor truly wants to come to Lindecoa, he will come, Mirror or not," answered the old man. "I suggest that you keep this glorious device, but do not throw caution to the wind."
"Yeah, yeah," Buffy replied as she sat in one of the overstuffed chairs, propping her legs over the arm.
Luthor stood there for a moment, watching the Slayer intently. "How 'bout a drink, Bella?" She nodded her head as she fiddled with her wedding band. "And then you can recount your tale for me in full," he added as he poured them each a glass of wine.
"C'mon Luthor," she protested, rolling her eyes. "I'm sure you've heard that story a million times since you've been here."
"Not from you!" he answered as he handed her a drink. "I want to hear it from you, my child. Tales tend to become taller in the telling. You'd be amazed at how many different versions I've heard over the last few weeks," said Luthor with a shake of his head as he sat in the other chair.
"Such as?" asked an apprehensive Buffy.
"Well, there has been talk that you and Morgoth have had another child, and I believe that Sauron too, fathered a babe with you," he said with a chuckle. Buffy was appalled. She couldn't believe that her own people were spreading such gossip.
"That's a crock of shit!" she blurted out angrily. "There was nothing beyond kissing!"
"Oh, so that version is true," said Luthor with raised eyebrows. "Come now, Bella, the time has come for you to tell me the tale in full."
Buffy then revealed to the Maia all that had happened since their last meeting. He listened with rapt attention, interrupting only a few times with questions. The Maia felt uneasy about Sauron aiding the Slayer in her escape, especially with the kiss. That did not portend any good, he deemed. Morgoth's lieutenant never expressed any interest in any woman. At least, not during Luthor's stint in Angband.
"Hmm," sounded the Maia after hearing her story. "After what I've been told by your husband… "
"Ooh, I love hearing that. My husband!" said a joyful Buffy. "And I'm a wife, Luthor. Can you believe that?"
"Yes, yes," grumbled the old man. "We need to address the issue of this evil imposter. The witch."
"How?" queried the Slayer. Luthor's head turned towards the Mirror. "No! I don't want to use it."
"You must!" ordered the Maia. "Maglor had told me that you used that device in order to see his past, and yours as well. That is key to showing us what happened at that fateful moment when you were hit by the axe. We have no other choice… unless you want that question lingering in the back of your mind for the rest of eternity."
Buffy stared down into her glass, idly swirling the contents. "No, I don't want that," she said with resignation.
"You must learn to confront your fears head on, Bella," stated Luthor firmly. "You're not alone, here… "
"See, that's what you guys don't get. I'll always be alone. I was alone in that mystical prison for twenty years, I was alone in Angband with Morgoth, I was alone… "
"That was then, this is now," he argued. He grabbed her hands and held them tightly. "We will make you stronger so you will not have to fear being imprisoned by Melkor or anyone else. I will help you, my child."
"There's no way I'll ever have enough strength to bring him down. Morgoth's the firstborn of the Valar and he's stronger than all the rest, including me. Hell, I don't even think I can defeat Illyria and deliver mankind like I'm supposed to. How in Eru's name can we defeat an army nearly a half a billion strong, Luthor?" she questioned with an air of dread in her voice. She didn't give him the chance to respond. "I can't muster that kind of manpower. Even if I could unite all the elves, men and dwarves, we're still outnumbered.
"So what are my options, here? Shut the Hellmouth that Illyria's kingdom's on and allow mankind to perish? Or should I just destroy the world altogether and save everyone from a bunch of heartache? I know what's coming, Luthor. And I'm not ready to face it… not by a long shot. I need more time!"
"Bella, I am not suggesting that we storm the fortresses of Illyria or Melkor on the morrow," reassured Luthor calmly. "I understand that you have a long way to go before you're ready, but you must continue preparing as you've always done. It is not time to throw in the proverbial towel."
"Am I not entitled to some peace? Don't I get to ride into the sunset with my prince?" she questioned with tear-filled eyes. "I've suffered horribly, Luthor. I haven't been back that long. Can't this wait? Can't I enjoy what I've worked so hard for?"
"My child, you are the Chosen One. You don't have the luxury to forgo your sacred duty," the Maia said kindly. "We are not going to engage the enemy in any battles, but we must work on honing your skills. That means that we need to figure out exactly what happened on that fateful day years ago. I understand your anxiety, really I do." Luthor's eyes had become filled with tears. "Do it for me, Bella. I need to know what happened even if you have no interest in finding out. I will have no peace of mind until I learn what happened, then we'll be able to deal with the situation wisely."
Buffy knew that Luthor was looking out for her best interests. She relented. They walked over to the Mirror, and she began filling the basin with the water from the cistern. "Why did you have to get all teary eyed on me, Luthor?" she asked.
"Because you love and care about me deeply," he answered with a half smile, "As I do you. We will make you stronger, once we figure things out."
"I guess that remains to be seen," said the Slayer as she slit the palm of her hand with a dagger. The blood spilled into the water and for the first time, it turned red, blood red, not blue. She waved her hand over the bowl and then blew on the contents. With a clap of her hands, flickering flames of orange and blue sprang out of the basin until it turned to the image of her flying in falcon form. They stood side-by-side, as Buffy licked her hand, healing herself in the process.
"You are close to Ossir's borders here?" questioned Luthor as he watched the hologram-like picture.
"Yeah, there are the dwarves," she commented. "I'm gonna start descending in a minute." They watched as she flew lower and lower. Then the axe came hurling through the air towards her breast. "Here it comes." It happened so fast that Buffy didn't notice.
"Stop the image!" ordered Luthor, furrowing his eyebrows. The image continued to play.
"How the hell am I supposed to do that?" she queried.
"Will it! All you have to do is will it. I want to see the impact again… and slower," instructed Luthor.
"Like I can play it in slow motion," she mumbled under her breath. Buffy thought hard. The image went into reverse and it replayed slowly before them. "That's totally cool. I didn't know that I could do that!" she added delightedly.
"There's a lot of things that you can do that you haven't given thought to yet," answered the Maia, as he looked closer at the image. "Play it slowly, Bella." The image slowed down dramatically. It was like watching a movie frame by frame. "Look!" he exclaimed as he pointed to a dark shape that lurked over her shoulder. She had never seen it before. "That is the fey of the imposter. I can see it plainly now. Back it up again and play it again at the same speed as before." The Slayer was stunned that she had never perceived the imposter's presence at that time. They watched that scene several times.
"I can't believe I didn't know she was there," uttered an alarmed Buffy.
"I've seen enough," said Luthor as he refilled their glasses with a shaky hand.
"What is it?" queried the Slayer upon noticing his trembling. "What's wrong, Luthor?"
"Come and sit with me," he instructed. They returned to their overstuffed chairs. "I believe that I understand what happened to you, Bella," the Maia began before taking a deep drink. "It appears that when the axe struck you, your fey momentarily left your body due to the trauma. In that split second, the imposter took possession of your hrör, forcing you to remake another body to house your fey." Buffy sat there with her jaw hung open. The realization that she was not in her 'real' body kind of freaked her out a bit.
"But Luthor, how did I get there? To that dungeon, I mean?" queried a bewildered Buffy.
He chewed on his bottom lip. "It was magick, Bella," he started. "Did you not notice that you were engulfed in a blue light as opposed to white?"
"But I thought that blue was my sacred color," commented the Slayer.
"True, but have you ever vanished in a blue light before?" he asked.
"Not that I remember. When I went to Lindon before the wedding, there was no light. What does that mean?" she asked with concern.
He shook his head. "That I do not know. Your fey resembles a blue flame, which is why you are known as Luinil, but I deem that you are entering a new phase in your life. I see red in your future."
Buffy's thoughts immediately turned to Morgoth. She knew that he had an aversion to that color yet last time she was with him, he had a red dress made for her. Did he know something that she did not?
"What exactly does red represent?" asked the Slayer.
"Obviously, blood and passion," answered the Maia. "It also symbolizes power, speed, strength and aggression. It is no mere coincidence that you happen to possess all those traits, Bella."
"So, I'm going through some type of change," suggested a confused Buffy.
"I prefer the word 'phase.' You are entering a new phase is all," replied Luthor. "I believe that you're stronger than ever."
"How so?"
"The body that you had before was created by the mortal 'parents' of Buffy Summers; it was weak, flawed," revealed the old man. "This form was made by you, your essence." He smiled. "You have perfected your flesh!"
Buffy couldn't help but laugh at that. "Yeah, right," she said skeptically. "If I've perfected my body, how come I didn't fight with the same intensity when I was sparring with the guys like I did with my old form? Why wasn't I able to break out of my prison?" she questioned with a shake of her head. "It just doesn't make any sense, Luthor."
"There are a few possibilities. Great magicks were used against you, Bella. And I deem that that witch did not act alone. No Maia possesses that type of power over a Vala. Your kindred were made greater than the Maiar. It would take many of my kind to keep you in limbo." Luthor rose to his feet and began pacing. "Yes, it's all making sense to me now. This conspiracy is greater than I've ever thought, and surprisingly, I don't think Melkor was behind it, not this time." He started mumbling under his breath. "No, he rescued you. He would not torment you in such a manner. We need to ask ourselves who would go to such drastic measures to get you out of the way and why?"
"What about Sauron? Or Illyria?" suggested Buffy.
"It's possible," answered Luthor as he absentmindedly stroked his beard. The room fell quiet as the Maia continued to pace. Buffy herself began to recall things from her past. One of the things that came to her mind was the dire warning from Salmar years ago about waiting fifty years before wedding Mablung.
"Salmar knew," she blurted out, breaking the silence. Luthor stopped and faced the Slayer. It seemed like everything was becoming clearer to her. "Salmar knew that something was going to happen to me," disclosed Buffy incredulously. "Do you think that the Valar could be behind this? Maybe they wanted me out the way, fearing that I would join forces with Morgoth. It seems that they've already jumped to that conclusion any way."
"But Salmar said that they were unaware of your imprisonment… "
"Just because he said it, doesn't mean it's true," protested the Slayer. "Why else would he tell me to wait fifty years before marrying? He knew something, Luthor. And I bet he got his info from Ulmo."
"Why would Ulmo want you imprisoned?" questioned a disbelieving Luthor.
Buffy thought for a moment. "Cause he didn't want me to marry someone else. We'd supposedly loved each other at one time - it could be jealously."
"That's preposterous!" barked the Maia. "If that were the case, why wouldn't Ulmo prevent your wedding to Maglor? No. I do not think that the Valar are behind this. This is a new foe we're dealing with here."
The Slayer was slightly miffed that Luthor shot down her idea. She wasn't about to rule out the possibility. She couldn't. Buffy was finding it difficult to differentiate between the good guys and the bad ones. It seemed as if she were being attacked from all sides.
"Okay, so we figured out how the witch hijacked my body… so what happens now? I hate the thought of an evil me out there somewhere. She can cause a lot more problems than she's done so far, Luthor," said the nervous Slayer.
"For now, we can only pray that she does not hinder any of the bonds that you've formed with the people of Middle-earth." He looked up at Buffy, grim faced. "That would be disastrous for us. We must work on your magics, Bella. You must send forth your powers so that your former hrör recognizes that the wrong fey resides in its house."
"What will that do?" queried a puzzled Buffy.
"Once the body is aware it will begin to fade into nothingness," he said solemnly. "At that point, we can only hope that she'll resume her original form, not yours."
"You mean she can remake herself to look like me?!" exclaimed the distressed Slayer. The glass that she was holding shattered as a direct result, spilling wine all over her lap. She brushed the fragments from her hands and dress as she stared at Luthor, waiting anxiously for his response.
"Of course, she can. It's a skill that we all possess," said the Maia while blotting the liquid with his handkerchief. "You can take any form that you wish, Bella. How do you think you turned into that old woman when you first approached the men in the east?"
"I assumed the Valar were responsible," she said quietly. "I mean, they instructed me to go in the first place, so I figured that they thought that it was the most non-threatening form… "
"Do you not see?" questioned Luthor as he fell to his knees and looked earnestly into Buffy's eyes. "You said it yourself. You figured out that appearing to mankind in the guise of an old woman would be less threatening, and that's exactly what you did. The Valar played no part in that."
The Slayer was amazed to hear that. She really did think that they were responsible, not she. "So, you're telling me that I can change my appearance to anything that I want?"
"Yes, indeed. The only thing that you cannot change is your gender. A female will always remain a female, a male, a male. Therefore, whether you wish to soar through the air in the likeness of Manwë's eagles or if you wish to float upon the waters of Ulmo as a swan, you will always remain female."
"Damn, what else can I do?" she asked slightly dumbfounded. She never dwelled on what she was capable of doing with magic. Maybe, it had to do with past life experiences. One thing that she knew for sure was that the more powerful the magic, the weaker it makes you. And strength was something that Buffy wasn't too keen on giving up. She valued her strength greater than magic.
"We need to take things one step at a time, my dear," said the Maia as he rose to his feet. He pulled her up as well. "One must exercise one's gifts or they become dormant. And I daresay that you have fallen into the dormant category. Have you used any magics lately?"
"Well, it's not like I use it all the time, but yeah, sometimes. I mostly use my powers to teleport. It's my favorite means of traveling although my husband prefers the old fashioned way," said the Slayer with a chuckle.
"Oh, yes, teleporting. I wish I possessed that gift," sighed the old man. "I deem that you need to practice shape shifting. That is a wondrous skill that you must learn to master. It will be advantageous to you in the future."
Luthor then showed Buffy how to change her form at will. He made her change into a variety of different creatures including a swan, falcon, bee, bear, lion and even a tree. She also learned how to make herself taller, shorter, older and younger. It was amazing and draining all at the same time.
"Excellent, Bellaseth, excellent," said Luthor proudly. "It is now time for you to send forth your powers. Give me a minute to prepare." The Maia pulled a stick of charcoal from his pocket and proceeded to draw a large circle on Buffy's beautiful marble floor.
"Hey old man!" she shouted. "You're ruining my floor."
"Nonsense," he replied. "I'm merely drawing a Ring of Protection."
"It looks more like graffiti to me," she said with an air of disdain in her voice. She mumbled some choice words under her breath. The circle was twenty feet in diameter and in the center stood the Mirror on its marble pedestal. She had no idea what the hell Luthor was doing other than destroying the craftsmanship of the dwarves.
"This represents the essence of the female," the Maia finally said when he had finished.
"That doesn't resemble a… " she started before he cut her off.
"It's symbolic, Bella," said the Maia with a shake of his head. "The female represents home and hearth, and this symbol is used as a means of protection. You only need to step outside to see that Lindecoa is enclosed by a circular wall… very much like Valimar, the city of the Powers in the West."
"Gee, all this time I thought the wall was for keeping intruders out," quipped the Slayer. "Silly me!"
"This is important, child, and it's not a matter for jest!" chastised Luthor.
As the Maia droned on about the significance of this symbol, Buffy sort of spaced out. Her own mind went back to that momentous day many years ago in Sussrúmnir; the day that the twins were born. She recalled the spell that she had done with Marto in order to re-energize her spirit. It then dawned on her that she intuitively had a greater knowledge of casting spells than she had originally thought. Back then, she automatically knew that the only way to increase her powers was by uniting with one from the opposite sex within the circles. It was very similar to what she had done in Angband with Morgoth except with totally different results.
Luthor instructed Buffy to sit in the circle while he walked around the perimeter. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to relax.
"Concentrate, Bella," advised the Maia softly. "Focus your energies on your hrör. Search for it in your mind. Call to it," he spoke slowly. Time seemed to come to a standstill. Buffy had no idea how much time had elapsed when suddenly a white light shot out of her body and soared upwards, disappearing through the ceiling of the room. It left her feeling a little woozy. "Well done," said a happy Luthor as he entered the circle. "That's enough for today." He helped Buffy to her feet.
"I really do need to get a move on," he said after they left the chamber.
"I've got something that I want to give you before you leave. Do you have time to come with me to the armories?" she asked tiredly.
"I will make the time," he answered with a smile.
They entered one of the vast chambers. Buffy led him to the back wall where a large copper trunk sat. She pulled a key out of her pocket and unlocked the chest. "I made these years ago with Marto in Folkvang," she said as she pulled a glove out of the box. "It's a very powerful weapon that shoots out electrical impulses that will obliterate anything in its path." She placed it in his hand and retrieved another before relocking the case . "C'mon, I'll show you how to use it."
Buffy led Luthor outside to a private area where no elves were lingering about. She demonstrated how the glove of Myhnegon worked. "This is the most extraordinary device that I've ever set my eyes upon," remarked the astonished Maia. Nothing delighted her more than hearing those words from someone that she considered not only a mentor, but also family.
After the afternoon meal, Luthor departed Tol Galen for the Deeper Well.
Before the Slayer would leave, she needed to appoint a new Regent for Ossir. That is why she summoned Úrion to her private chambers.
"I feel like I've neglected you since I've been back," she had said to her dear friend. "I'm really sorry about that."
"There's no need to apologize, Bella. You've had much to do with the wedding and all," answered the elf.
"Well, Maglor's eager to get back to his lands in the north, but I can't leave Ossir without someone acting in my stead during my absence," revealed the Slayer. "It would mean a lot to me if you would accept the position of Regent."
Úrion smiled. "I'm honored that you trust me so," he replied. "But I do not wish to leave you. I vowed to remain by your side and I want to accompany you to the north. Perhaps Nestor would be better suited for that position. He is a green-elf after all."
Buffy's heart sank. "True, but he really doesn't know how to handle government affairs," she replied dejectedly. "I mean… when the dwarves were murdered, you took it upon yourself to compensate the people of Belegost. Nestor didn't even know that that was the appropriate thing to do." She let out a heavy sigh. "It would mean so much to me if you would stay for a while to keep things running. Maybe you could train Nestor for the role and then rejoin me in the north," suggested Buffy.
"But I do not wish to leave you, Dagnir," pleaded Úrion. "I love you and wish… "
"What if I sweeten the deal for you?" she asked.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"I'll double your salary plus I'll have the elves and dwarves erect a fine home for you… anywhere you want it," offered the Slayer.
"Are you trying to get rid of me?" the elf questioned in a hurtful tone.
"Oh, no. It's nothing like that." She got up and hugged him reassuringly. "I love you, Úrion, and I really want you to go with me. But I don't really trust anyone to run things here like I want them run. You have a mind for business and finances. You know how to handle the bartering and whatnot with the Noldor and dwarves. No one is better suited for the position than you." She looked at him pleadingly. "It'll only be for a few years. I expect to be back soon."
"Maglor has been here for many years, I do not think he will be eager to return so soon," replied Ossir's Minister of Finance.
"My child will be born in Ossir. That's one thing that I won't make any concessions about," disclosed the Slayer.
"Bella, are you with child?" asked the shocked elf.
"No, not yet," she replied. "But it won't be too long before I am. I've seen that in my future… Actually, I heard it as opposed to seeing it. The visions are strange sometimes. Regardless, I know that an infant will be born unto me and Maglor in the very near future, and I will return at that time." Her smile widened. "You can come back with us at that time. I want the little one to be raised with his Uncle Úrion, you know."
"Uncle, huh?" questioned the councilor with a chuckle. "Alright, Dagnir. I will stay, but only until you return. After that, I refuse to be left behind."
"Thanks, Úrion," she said as she gave him another hug. "By the way, I've got a special gift for you." She disappeared for a few minutes and returned with a Glove. "This is a very powerful weapon that I devised in Folkvang. It's yours, my friend."
The elf looked wide-eyed at the weapon. As he examined it, Buffy explained what it was and how it worked. She didn't have time to show him how precise and effective it was, but she knew that he would test it out the first chance he got.
"This is magnificent, Bella," he said in an awe-filled voice. "How can I ever repay you?"
"Just keep things running smoothly while I'm gone," she answered with a smile. "You're now Lord of Ossir."
"I will do my best, my Lady," he replied courteously. "And I will miss you dearly." He pulled her in a tight embrace, a wicked grin on his face. Úrion was just given an all access pass to every military installation in Ossir, as well as Buffy's home.