Not mine, Tolkien's and Whedon's
In Dreams
Buffy was so cold. She shivered uncontrollably and snow was caked on her cloak. What had Gandalf been smoking when he decided to make them try and cross a mountain in the dead of winter? Buffy didn't care how many sips he gave them from his flask she was freezing and the weather conditions just continued to decline. To make matters worse Legolas was running back and forth on top of the snow while everyone else fought through chest deep drifts. Apparently elves weren't affected by this sort of thing. It was very annoying.
Buffy stumbled and Boromir steadied her with a hand under her arm. Legolas walked by on top of the snow and Buffy muttered, "Show-off."
Suddenly Buffy felt herself lifted up and out of the snow. Legolas had picked her up! She was being carried like a sack of potatoes! He looked down at her surprised face, "I heard that. What is a show-off?"
"Put me down you pointy eared -" the rest of her insult was lost as Buffy kicked herself free. She heard Legolas grunt in pain and then she realized her mistake. With a thump she landed on her butt in the snow.
She got back to her feet and continued to plough her way ahead. Feeling a tug at her sleeve she looked down to see Pippin holding something out to her with an evil glint in his eye. It was a snowball. He nodded towards Legolas and Buffy grinned. She wasn't the only one annoyed with the elf and his light feet. Buffy saw the elf up ahead walking in front. She aimed carefully at the back of his head and fired. Success! The snowball hit with a satisfying thunk.
Legolas turned around in surprise and Pippin and Buffy laughed at the look on his face. Before the elf could retaliate the wind suddenly picked up speed and although Buffy hadn't thought it possible the snow fell even harder. She could see Aragorn and Gandalf in deep conversation just ahead but she couldn't hear them over the roar of the wind. It now took all her concentration to just put one foot in front of the other. She grabbed Pippin's hand and pulled him along behind her. A loud crack sounded over the wind and suddenly everything went white and then black as Buffy was buried beneath a large mound of snow.
After the weather dramatically worsened Legolas had been headed back towards where the hobbits and Buffy had been walking. There was a large wet spot on the back of his neck where the snowball had hit him and the feeling was most unpleasant. Legolas had also been feeling uneasy the further the Fellowship walked through Caradhras. Something did not want them here and it was making its feelings known. He had only an instant of warning before he was covered in snow. Because he had not been as far down in the snow he was the first to emerge. It was deathly quiet. The whole company was buried and Legolas felt a moment of panic. How was he ever going to find them beneath all this snow? He took a deep breath, closed his eyes and concentrated. There just a little to the left, he could feel . . . reaching down through the snow he grabbed a slender wrist and pulled. Buffy was soaked from the snow and her lips were an unhealthy shade of blue but she was alive. Legolas felt a sense of relief. She held on to him for a moment, he was so warm, then they broke apart and quickly began digging out the other members of the Fellowship.
"We must make for the Gap of Rohan," Boromir insisted.
"Our best chance is to continue through Caradhras," Gandalf said.
"Moria," Gimli said. "We can go through Moria."
"I had hoped to avoid that way for there are things in the deep dark better left undisturbed," Gandalf actually looked a little frightened and Buffy didn't like the sound of this Moria. "The ring-bearer should decide."
Buffy looked at Frodo and felt for him. She didn't think it fair of Gandalf to put the decision off on Frodo just because he was afraid to make the choice himself.
"Moria," Frodo said. "We will go through Moria."
The Fellowship made their way back down the mountain. Caradhras had defeated them.
* * *
The forest was dark and cool. Trees as tall as skyscrapers blocked out any trace of sky. Buffy shivered. Step after cautious step she made her way into the woods. It was so quiet. The air was thick, damp. Unease trickled down her spine. This was not a good place. A twig cracked and Buffy's head snapped to the left. There was a clearing. A light shone dimly as she stepped warily out of the cover of the trees. In the middle of the clearing a stone floated in mid-air. It looked to be a solid black but as Buffy got closer she noticed that it was slightly translucent. Buffy tensed as the air shuddered and stiffened. She wasn't alone. Turning slowly, her back to the stone, she looked behind her. A man dressed all in white stepped into the sick light cast by the black stone. A staff was by his side and his hooded eyes spoke of a deep intelligence. He had long hair and an equally long beard like Gandalf but where Gandalf's was wavy and grey this man's was straight and shining white. He had unearthly aura about him that made him seem almost heavenly. Buffy disliked him immediately.
"Hello Buffy," the man's voice slithered out of his mouth and wrapped Buffy up in a bonelike grip. "My name is Saruman the White and I am a great wizard. I have come to you, Buffy, because I have the power to help you."
"Cut the crap, I know you're evil. I heard all about you from Gandalf. What do you want?" Buffy stood belligerently with her hands fisted on her hips.
"Evil? Such a strong word from one so small."
"I hardly think my size has anything to do with this."
"Quite right," the wizard nodded. "Size can often be very misleading. I have come on behalf of a great master to offer you something you want very badly. His power is beyond great and he will crush any who oppose him. From the dark depths of Mordor he calls with a force so great that he must be heard. On his dark throne he awaits the moment when - "
"God!" Buffy threw her hands up in the air. "Why do you bad guys always have to talk so much? Why can't you just come out with it already? Straight-forward, no-nonsense. That's the way I like my evil."
"I can help you get home Buffy."
She looked Saruman in the eye. "Keep talking."
"I have the knowledge and power to open another portal. One to take you back to your world."
"I feel a but coming on here."
"Everything has a price."
"Again, what do you want?"
"For you to be my eyes and ears within the Fellowship. I can come to you in your dreams, they need never know." Saruman stepped up beside the stone. "Do you know what this is?"
"A big rock," she looked unimpressed.
"It is a palantir," Saruman said a little exasperated. The girl was so disrespectful. "A seeing stone. It connects me to Sauron. He bids me to help you get home Buffy. All you have to do is answer a few questions. Sauron will triumph and he will want to reward those who served him well. There is great power in you, I can feel it. You could have great success working for Sauron and in return he will bid me to return you to your world as your reward." Saruman paused and pinned Buffy's eyes with his own, "Your sister needs you."
"How do you - ?"
"I have seen her Buffy. She suffers so and you are the only one who can save her." Saruman's hand stroked the palantir slowly.
"What's wrong? Is she okay?"
"Her heart bleeds but she lives. For now. You must return soon and you can if you decide to help me."
"Do I look stupid? You know I don't believe you right? You. Are. Evil. That means you lack credibility."
"I can make things very difficult for you if you refuse. Think, all you have to do is answer some questions."
"Like what?"
Saruman's eyes gleamed in triumph. "Which one of the halflings carries the Ring?"
Frodo's face swam in Buffy's memory. The Ring. If they didn't destroy the Ring Middle-Earth would fall. If she told Saruman about Frodo it would be as good as signing the hobbit's death warrant. "I don't think so. I may want to go home but I'm not about to sacrifice my friend and an entire world to do it. And do you know why? Because I am the good guy and you aren't."
"So be it," Saruman had had enough. The girl spoke in circles. He looked deep into her eyes and Buffy felt her body go slack. This wasn't good. Saruman forced her gaze down into the palantir where it glowed with a sick, pulsing light. "Look deep, I will return to you in three days. Perhaps you will have been persuaded to reconsider my offer by then. Have a pleasant sleep my dear."
Saruman's voice and body faded as Buffy was pulled further into the stone. Flash. She stood once again before an eye of fire and she could feel the darkness and evil pouring off of it in waves. She was afraid. Flash. She was back on Glory's tower except this time she watched helplessly as Dawn's life bled out of her slowly. Dawn was crying in fear and pain. Buffy couldn't get to her. Dawn's body went slack.
"NO!!! Dawn!!! Don't die!!!"
* * *
Buffy was screaming. The fellowship awoke with a start as the slayer's voice pierced the quiet night. Aragorn, who was already awake and on watch, reached Buffy's side quickly. She was tossing violently and tears leaked out of her eyes. He put his hands on her shoulders and tried to hold her down before she hurt herself but to his surprise she was too strong.
"Legolas," he said to the elf who had appeared at the girl's side moments after him, "hold her legs while I hold her shoulders and try to calm her."
The elf grabbed Buffy's ankles to keep her from kicking out and Aragorn held her arms and spoke quietly in her ear. She began to fight harder and Legolas almost lost his grip but as Aragorn continued to whisper she slowly began to settle. She wasn't fighting anymore but she was sobbing uncontrollably. Aragorn held her close until her tears dried.
"I couldn't save her," she murmured before falling back into a peaceful sleep. Aragorn gently laid her back down.
"What happened?" asked a wide-eyed Pippin.
"A bad dream I suppose," said Gandalf though he did not seem very confident in his assertion.
"I've never had a bad dream quite like that before," Boromir said.
Aragorn rubbed his eyes tiredly. Buffy was supposed to have had the next watch after him but he thought it best to let her rest for now. He felt a touch on his arm and looked over at Frodo.
"Get some sleep Aragorn," he said. "I will take Buffy's watch."
As the Fellowship settled back down into their slumber Frodo sat quietly at Buffy's side and didn't move until dawn appeared over the horizon.
