Buffy belongs to Whedon and everything else is Tolkien's
This quick update is a present for all the readers. Thanks a bunch for the support : )
Revelations and Conversation
Galadriel stood pale and shining behind a stone pedestal on which a silver pan sat. In her hands was a pitcher that Buffy assumed was full of water since drops of it clung to the silver surface. As she came closer she realized that the pan was in fact a mirror that at the moment was reflecting the starry night sky.
"I must apologize to you Buffy," said Galadriel.
"Why?"
"I only meant to make you feel a little weary so that you might rest more peacefully. I forget that Men are often more sensitive to my powers. It seems I did not know my own strength."
"Oh," Buffy said. So that was why she had fainted. "Well, no worries. I've done the same thing before - well not with your kind of powers but, you know, with my physical strength."
"I trust you did rest well?"
"Like a baby."
Galadriel seemed a little confused at Buffy's words but she let it pass. "We have much to discuss."
"Then lets not waste time with small talk. Do you know how I can get home?"
The Elf sat the pitcher she had been holding on the stone pedestal next to the mirror. "I do not posses the powers necessary for that task for that I am afraid you will need a great wizard. However, I do have some knowledge of portals."
"What can you tell me?"
"You did not make it through your journey unchanged. You see the physical body cannot withstand the energy contained in an interdimensional portal. In short you shed your physical form upon entering the portal, it was your soul that traveled through to Middle-Earth."
Buffy was confused. "But I am standing here in a physical body that looks exactly like it always has."
"Not exactly." Galadriel pointed to Buffy's neck.
"My scars," said Buffy, "they're gone."
"Yes, when you arrived here and you came out of the portal you were in a sense remade. The energy has a purifying force which means that as your physical self was remade any imperfections were burned away."
"So my old body. . . ?"
"Remained behind in your world."
Oh God, that meant Dawn and her friends thought she was dead.
"In a sense you did die," Galadriel raised the silver pitcher high and poured water onto the mirror. "Your life in your world is complete. You died doing your duty as was always your destiny. Your life here is just beginning."
"My life here? I don't belong here, I belong in Sunnydale."
"There are things you are meant to accomplish during your time here."
"Things? What things?"
"I am afraid I do not know. I only know that it was no accident that brought you to Middle-Earth. You were meant to come here but as to the reasons for this," Galadriel looked sorrowfully at Buffy, "they have not been revealed to me."
Buffy rolled her eyes in frustration. It was the same old deal. Excuse me you have this destiny to fulfill but we don't know exactly what you have to do. You have to figure that out for yourself.
"Will you look into the mirror?" asked Galadriel.
"Why?"
"It is in my power to show you things that will aid you in your time here. I must caution you though, I cannot control everything you will see."
"What do you mean? What else could I see?"
"Things that were, things that are, and things that have not yet come to pass."
"Cryptic much?"
"Will you look?"
Buffy nodded her head. What did she have to lose? If there was something she had to do here she wanted to figure out what it was so she could do it. Then she could go home. She stepped up to the pedestal and looked into the Mirror of Galadriel. At first the water just looked smoky then it cleared and Buffy gasped. Willow stood with her arm around Dawn who was sobbing. They were looking down at something. A tombstone. It was a tombstone and the name on it was Buffy Anne Summers. Giles and Xander also seemed to be crying and Anya looked pale and drawn. A swirl of water and Buffy felt herself jump forward in time. She saw Giles and Xander and Anya in the Magic Box. Anya looked to be harassing some customer in her usual fashion while Giles and Xander were replacing a pane of glass in one of the display cabinets. The water swirled and the image changed. Now Willow and Tara stood before her. They had been smiling and walking hand in hand but as Buffy gazed at them both stopped. They looked about them as if they could feel the eyes that watched from afar. Another swirl and Buffy caught her breath again. It was Dawn. She sat in her room with a few of her friends. They were chatting and laughing. Buffy smiled, it was so good to see Dawn happy. Dawn glanced up for a moment and something caught her eye causing her smile to fade. It was a picture of Buffy. It sat on Dawn's dresser and before it was laid Mr. Pointy. A pang of sadness passed over her face but her smile returned as she looked back to her friends. Buffy grimaced, they all believed her dead.
Before she could further that thought the water swirled. She was flying towards a tall, skinny tower that looked black in the night. Then she was standing on a high ledge in the rain surrounded by Elves clad in armor. A bow was drawn and aimed in her hand and a sword hung at her side. She saw Frodo lying as if dead and Sam crying over his master. Legolas was looking at her with horror and despair written over his features. Finally, she was once again standing before that hideous eye wreathed flame.
Buffy wrenched herself back from the mirror gasping for breath.
"Was that real?" she asked.
"The images from your world are. I thought you would like to see your family again. As for the rest, they might come to pass or it may be in your power to stop them."
"So my destiny is to once again save the world." Buffy said disgusted.
"No, that is Frodo's task and his task alone. You play a smaller part in this fight but nonetheless a significant one. This quest stands on the edge of a knife even the smallest act could save it or destroy it."
"Well if I am playing such a small role how come this Sauron guy is after me?"
"I know you saw the Eye. Sauron wants you because you posses power unlike any other on Middle-Earth."
"Power?"
"You are of Men but you are not easily corrupted. The power you carry is of pure goodness but it is not like the power of the Elves. You fight against the Dark unselfishly with unrivaled power. Sauron yearns to use this power to achieve his own ends. He wants to corrupt your will to do right and turn it to his gain."
"Let him try. He has already and didn't succeed."
"Only because of the connection you share with Prince Legolas."
"Connection?" Buffy paused then her eyes widened, "Wait a minute, Prince Legolas?"
"He is the son of King Thranduil of Mirkwood."
"I am traveling with a Prince and a King, not bad."
"You are drawn to him," said Galadriel. It was not a question and Buffy knew who she was speaking of.
"Yes," she admitted.
"This is most interesting. Very few Elves share such bonds with humans."
"Bonds?" Buffy shook her head. "We are in no way bonded."
Galadriel smiled secretly. "If you say so." Her face grew serious, "I must warn you. You were lucky to survive the first journey through the portal. Had you not been called here it is likely you truly would be dead. To risk another trip is to risk death again."
Buffy sighed, why did everything have to be so difficult?
Galadriel came forward and caught Buffy's hands in her own. "I wish you to enjoy your time in Lothlorien for I see a dangerous road ahead for you and your companions."
With that she turned and walked into the trees. The two handmaidens returned and led Buffy back towards the camp. Buffy barely noticed them as she walked. She had a lot to think about.
* * *
Buffy walked for what felt like miles. A million things were running through her head. Her purpose here, Sauron, Legolas, but most of all one thought would not let her be. Her friends thought she was dead. They had given her a funeral and buried her. She shivered at the thought. Being buried had always been her greatest fear. She was dead to them and they were okay. Buffy hadn't missed the sadness that lingered in their eyes but she also hadn't missed that they were all getting on with her lives. She didn't know how to feel about that. This was driving her crazy. If she were at home she could have sat down with Willow or Xander or Giles and talked about her troubles. Keeping everything inside was wearing on her and she was tired of it. She needed someone to talk to.
"Buffy?"
She turned to find Legolas staring at her. His eyes traveled over her new dress and clean face causing Buffy to shiver a little but not from the cold.
"How do you do that?" she asked.
"What?"
"How do you always know when I need you?"
"I can feel you. I do not know how to explain it but somehow there is a piece of you that is always with me."
This was getting a little too serious for her to handle with everything else going on. She decided to change the subject.
"They think I'm dead."
"Who?"
"Everyone back home. Galadriel, she showed them to me." Buffy explained to Legolas what had happened when she went through the portal. Then she looked him in the eye. "They put me in the ground."
"Not you," he said. "Just a shell."
"And they are happy now. I mean they are getting on with their lives. Dawn was smiling again."
"This upsets you?"
"No," Buffy realized. It didn't upset her. In fact she felt a great weight lift off of her. She didn't need to rush home, no one was in danger. They were doing all right and that made her happy.
"Thank you," she smiled at Legolas.
He offered her his arm and Buffy awkwardly accepted. They walked back to their small camp where the hobbits were sleeping and Aragorn and Gimli were in deep conversation. They looked up as Buffy and Legolas approached.
"My Lady, you are truly a lovely sight to behold." Aragorn bowed low over Buffy's hand causing her to blush and laugh at the same time.
"Thank you." Buffy turned and frowned. "Where is Boromir?"
"He walked down to the pond," answered Gimli.
"He seemed troubled." said Aragorn. "Though I could not get him to share his problems."
"I think I will try to talk to him." Buffy said giving Legolas's arm a squeeze and heading off in the direction of the pond.
* * *
The night grew darker and the stars brighter. Boromir sat deep in thought, staring off at nothing. The Ring called to him strongly and he had been able to fight it's influence but it was getting much harder. He felt the evilness of his thoughts more strongly than ever in this place. The Elf-Witch knew what he desired and every time she looked at him he felt ashamed of himself. Aragorn said she could see the future which frightened Boromir. He feared what the future held for him. He tried everything to keep his thoughts turned from possessing the Ring. In frustration he picked a branch up of the ground and began ripping the leaves from it.
"Boromir?"
He spun around to see Buffy standing behind him. She had bathed and was dressed in a golden gown of Elven fashion.
"You look very nice," he said.
"I didn't come here for pretty compliments. How are you?"
A part of him wanted so badly to tell her what was happening to him but he feared her reaction. She might think him evil and he couldn't bear that.
"I am fine," he answered hoping she would leave it at that.
"Then why are you tearing that poor branch to shreds?"
"I - I had rather keep my thoughts to myself."
"Okay, no problem." Buffy sat down next to him. "Let's talk about something else then."
"Such as?"
"Tell me about your home."
It was Boromir's favorite subject. He was so homesick lately and the time passed swiftly as he told Buffy about Gondor. She was most interested in the White City and asked about the great library there. He described the beautiful land and brave, courageous people who fought to hold Mordor at bay. The Ring slipped from his mind completely as she described her home. He could not fathom some of the things she spoke of. Machines that flew and others that blew hot air to dry your hair, it was unbelievable. For time the troubles of the two companions slipped away as they reminisced about their homes. Soon the moon began to sink low in the sky and Buffy gave a muffled yawn.
"It is late," Boromir said, "you should get some sleep."
"What about you?"
"I will seek my own rest momentarily."
"All right." Buffy rose and stretched her arms. "Good night then Boromir."
"Sleep well and thank you."
"For what?"
"The conversation."
