Buffy stood rigid in front of the Council. Her hands were fisted at her sides and she shook with anger.

"But Lady Buffy this is why you are here." Elrond said slowly as if explaining something to a child and Buffy bristled even more. "Iluvatar chose you to help us save Middle-Earth."

"I understand what you want me to do, Elrond. But I won't go through it again do you understand me? I'm through will all of that." There was a wild, desperate glint in Buffy's eyes now. "I've given up everything: a normal life, a normal relationship. I've lost friends who I should have been able to save. I gave up everything to protect my world but its over now. It's Over. I wasn't sent here by anyone, I jumped off a tower into a portal to save my sister and my world. I'm done, finished. My only duty right now is to find a way home. Don't get me wrong, I wish all of you all the luck in the world on your journey. Believe me I know how hard it is," she looked at Frodo with a sad smile. She then caught Aragorn's intense grey eyes and continued softly, "This isn't my fight and this isn't my world." She turned to meet Legolas's gaze, "I don't belong here."

Gandalf stood and approached the quaking girl slowly as if not to startle her. "Buffy regardless of whether or not you were sent on some divine mission to save our world the fact is that you have seen the Eye. Sauron is watching you, meaning that your presence here is of importance to him. Your presence in Rivendell, much like Frodo's, draws Sauron's attention here which endangers those who harbor you. He will send his minions after you, it is better if you travel with us where we can protect you."

"If he wants to come after me let him try," the hard gleam in her eyes caused Gandalf to take half a step back. There was power in this small human girl.

"My dear," Gloin the dwarf stood from his seat, "Sauron will send orcs after you. They are foul creatures who are three times as strong as you not to mention heavily armed. Even if they are sent to merely bring you to Sauron I doubt you would arrive unmolested."

"If you are trying to scare me it isn't working." Buffy said dryly.

"You should not take this so lightly Lady," Aragorn said from his seat in the corner. "You would be defenseless against Mordor's beasts."

"Do I look worried? I can take care of myself." Buffy didn't know why she couldn't just tell them she was the Slayer. Maybe give a little demonstration to show these macho fools that she could indeed take care of herself. There was something that held her back though. She just felt like keeping that part of her identity to herself for now.

Frodo looked at Buffy with his luminous blue eyes, "If she does not wish to journey with us then she should not be forced to. Had the Ring not come to me I would want no part of this quest either and I truly feel that were I in her shoes I would also be doing everything in my power to return home for even now the Shire calls to me." He looked down and sighed deeply then his head snapped up and he regarded Buffy with a thoughtfully. "However since she arrived by magic it seems logical that she would find her way home through magic as well. We all know Gandalf is the most talented and learned of the Maia and if anyone would be able to find a way for Buffy to return to her world it would be him." Heads nodded in agreement to this statement. "But Gandalf is coming with us. Buffy, it would seem your best course of action would be to journey with the Fellowship. You would be protected from Sauron and you and Gandalf could begin to figure out a way to get you home while we travel. I am not saying that I believe you should risk your life to save our world but simply that you should travel with us for awhile until you and Gandalf find a solution."

Buffy looked at the hobbit as she considered. Obviously Gandalf was her best chance of getting home and it would be better to stick with him for now instead of waiting for him to return from this quest thing. She sighed, she would go with the Fellowship but only until she and Gandalf found a way to open another portal. She was not getting caught up in their mission to save Middle-Earth. Absolutely not.

"All right," Buffy looked down at Frodo. "I'm in."