The characters, unfortunately, do not belong to me. They are the property of JRR Tolkien and Joss Whedon.
Author's Note: Just wanted to apologize for the long delay in updating. Real Life got in the the way along with some computer problems and a healthy dose of writer's block. But here it is for your reading enjoyment and hopefully I'll be able to update again soon.
Thanks for all the reviews they are very much appreciated.
Strange Days
Time passed strangely in Lothlorien. Buffy wasn't sure how long the Fellowship stayed in the Golden Wood. The days seemed to meld together and when she looked back on her time here she would only remember a feeling of complete peace and restfulness. While winter covered the land outside the sun shone bright and warm in Lothlorien. At times a gentle refreshing rain would fall but there was no cold present among the mellyrn trees. Buffy saw no more of the Lord and Lady but her mind was eased of worries and she barely noticed. She spent a good deal of time with Boromir trying to improve his spirits and they quickly became good friends though he still refused to tell her what troubled him. Legolas drug her along on numerous walks through the woods but she was unable to share his unwavering excitement for hiking among the Golden Wood.
"Come Buffy," Legolas had said one morning grabbing her hand. "Haldir has agreed to take us towards the Northern Border."
"No, thank you." Buffy replied. "I promised Boromir I would meet him for some sword practice."
Legolas's eyes had narrowed a little at this.
"You have been spending a lot of time with him."
"Yes, we have become good friends. It seems we are both homesick and we have been trying to find things to do to keep our minds off of it." Buffy could have sworn the Elf was glowering.
"You're jealous!" She cried.
"What!?" Legolas said surprised. "I am not. I just - I - um - He's hiding something and I don't trust him."
"Uh - huh." Buffy said doubtfully. "Well, since I can't go with you and Haldir why not take Gimli?"
If it was possible Legolas had looked even more shocked.
"But he's - he's a -"
"Dwarf," Buffy finished. "Think what a wonderful chance this is to show Gimli how wonderful Elves are. He already thinks the Elves to believe themselves superior and by leaving him out of things you are only proving him right. Make him like Lothlorien as much you do and that way he can tell all the other Dwarves that Elves aren't as stuck up as everyone had thought."
"Buffy -"
"Please," Buffy asked.
"All right," Legolas agreed and Buffy grinned.
"He is down at the pool with Merry and Pippin. Have fun on your walk." Buffy had waved a quick goodbye and headed off to find Boromir.
Since then Legolas had taken Gimli on many outings with the other Elves. Buffy had overheard the Dwarf telling Sam that he was very impressed by the beauty of the Golden Wood and the generosity of the Elves. She had been very pleased. As the weariness and worry left the Fellowship under the bowers of Lothlorien the impact of Gandalf's death was more acutely felt. With nothing else to occupy their thoughts they were able to mourn for their lost friend. For Buffy this was very difficult because though she missed the wizard's presence she was also missing her friends and her sister as well. This was why she spent a good deal of her time sparring with Boromir. Both had things they wanted to forget and being able to concentrate on fighting allowed them to ignore their pain for awhile. Another benefit was that Buffy's sword skills improved greatly and on a couple of occasions when Aragorn had joined them she had been able to best the Ranger, though not by much.
Night was Buffy's favorite time in The Golden Wood. She loved to take long strolls around the city of Caras Galadhon and look at the lights that twinkled in the branches of the trees. The moon shed soft silvery light upon the ground and Buffy used this time to reflect upon the thoughts that she tried to avoid during the day. She missed her sister and her friends but she was happy that they were getting on with their lives and that they weren't in any terrible danger. Middle-Earth, however, was in danger and try as she might to focus her attention on finding a way home the closer she became with the other members of the Fellowship the more important it was to her that they succeeded in destroying the Ring. Buffy was no fool she realized that the evil that threatened this world was unlike anything she had ever faced before but the more and more she thought about it the more she wanted to help keep places as beautiful as Lothlorien and Rivendell from falling into darkness. As she continued lost in her thoughts one evening she came upon Aragorn sitting by a small pool fingering a pendant that hung at his neck. She got closer and saw that the pendant was crystal and appeared very delicate.
"Penny for your thoughts," she said.
"Buffy!" Aragorn started. "I did not hear you approach."
"Apparently not." She pointed towards the pendant. "That's really pretty. It - uh - doesn't quite seem your style though."
"Someone gave it to me but I think I should return it."
"Girls don't like it when you return their presents." Buffy chided.
"I am not worth this gift." Aragorn muttered.
"Arwen must think you are."
"How did you -"
"It's a girl thing."
"This is not just a simple pendant. It symbolizes something."
"And that would be . . ?" asked Buffy.
"You know that Elves are immortal. Arwen has - she has given up her immortality to live out a mortal life with me." Aragorn shut his eyes tightly and gripped the little crystal pendant so hard that Buffy feared it would break.
"They can do that?" Buffy was shocked. If only Angel had been able to - no, she wasn't going to go there.
"You can see how I cannot accept this. I am not worthy of such a sacrifice."
"You are a King." Buffy stated.
"An exiled one." Answered the Ranger despondently.
"Oh, stop feeling sorry for yourself!" Buffy threw her hands up in exasperation. "You have a chance at real happiness and you want to throw it all way because you're not worthy. You act as if this is some doomed love."
"But it is -" But Buffy would not let Aragorn finish.
"What!? You and Arwen are not doomed. You can be together for the rest of your lives and live happily ever after. That isn't doom it's a fairy tale! I know doomed love. I experienced it first hand. You and Arwen love each other and the only thing that is keeping you apart is your stubborn self-doubt - well, and the impending rise of a Dark Lord."
"Are you quite finished?"
Buffy realized that she had been pacing in front of Aragorn. She flushed a little and sat down beside him.
"What was this doomed love you spoke of? It seems an interesting tale."
Buffy hesitated a little. She wasn't sure she wanted to go into something so personal but when she realized it might make Aragorn discover how stupid he was being she thought it would be worth it. Carefully she told the whole story of her and Angel leaving out nothing and when she finished Aragorn was silent for awhile.
"Thank you for your story," he said softly fingering the pendant once again. "It has given me much to think on."
"Your very welcome." Buffy patted Aragorn's shoulder lightly and left him to his thoughts.
Just as she entered the clump of trees that surrounded the small pool a hand shot out and grabbed her by the arm. Buffy immediately tensed and was about to attack when she heard Legolas softly say her name.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"I was looking for you and Sam said he saw you walk in this direction." For a second his eyes flicked back to where Aragorn sat and Buffy froze.
"Did you hear our conversation?"
"Yes, Elves have very good hearing and I could hear your voices before I even saw you." Legolas was looking at Buffy very intently.
"So you know about . . . ?"
"Aragorn and Arwen? That is hardly a surprise. I heard your story Buffy, about you and . . . "
"Angel?" Buffy finished.
The Elf nodded.
"It was a long time ago. I don't want to talk about it." Buffy started to turn away but Legolas pulled her back.
"But I do," he said firmly. "I know that you draw comparisons between your relationship with this vampire with a soul and your connection with me. It is not the same Buffy. We have nothing in common with what occurred between you and Angel."
"We?" Buffy asked. "There is no 'we' Legolas."
Buffy stepped around the Elf and tried to leave but once again Legolas stopped her.
"You can't deny it Buffy. You've admitted that we have a connection and I think we both know that there is more than friendship between us. You feel drawn to me as I do to you."
Buffy was confused. This on top of everything else was a little more than she felt like dealing with right now. However, she couldn't deny that the relationship between her and Legolas was more than friendship. It was beyond that. She had such an awareness of him and always knew when he was near, though he had managed surprise her tonight.
"I feel it," she admitted softly. "But there is no future in anything between us. I am going to go home eventually and I think we would be best to remain friends. I can't go through another - I just can't."
"Buffy - "
"No," Buffy interrupted firmly, "it has to be this way. Now I'm tired so if you will let go I'd like to get some sleep."
Legolas reluctantly released her arm and watched as Buffy walked quickly away from him.
* * *
All too soon it was time for the Fellowship to leave. Morning dawned cool and gray as they gathered their things in preparation to depart. As Buffy bent to fasten her pack closed Galadriel's handmaidens suddenly appeared before her and motioned for her to follow them. She was shown to a small room high in the branches of a tree where Galadriel sat waiting.
"I have a gift for you," she said holding something up for Buffy to see. "It was mine but I think you shall have more need of its protection than I."
Buffy's eyes widened at the coat of mail in the Lady's hands. It shone bright and silvery with fine golden embroidery along the collar and down the sleeves. It was similar to the coat the Frodo wore under his clothes but not quite as ornate as the hobbit's. Buffy carefully took the coat from Galadriel and gasped at how light it was.
"This is that mithril stuff." Buffy said.
"Yes, it should serve you well on you journey."
"I can't accept this," Buffy tried to hand the coat back to Galadriel but the Elf refused to take it.
"I have given it to you. It is yours."
"Thank you."
"I have something else for you as well but I will give it to you when I give the others their gifts. I thought you might like to put the coat on along with some new traveling clothes I had made for you."
"This is too much -"
"Say no more." Galadriel said motioning to one of her handmaidens. "They will help you dress and then you may meet your companions on the banks of the river where your boats await."
With that the Lady glided out of the room. The handmaidens stood nearby holding a pair of fine, soft breeches and a matching tunic. The clothes fit much better than her Rivendell woolens had and felt much lighter as well. When she tried to put the mithril coat on under her clothes as Frodo wore his the handmaidens insisted it be worn over her clothes. When she finished dressing the handmaidens fastened her hair in a snug but rather elaborate looking knot. Buffy didn't think the hairdo would last long but it looked nice for now. She hurried back to where her companions waited.
"Buffy where did you -?" Boromir began as she stepped forward from a clump trees. His eyes widened when he saw the coat of mail she wore.
"That's - that's -"
"Mithril," she finished and grinned at the look Boromir's face. "Galadriel gave it to me."
"You must have made quite an impression."
Buffy's reply was cut off as they reached the rest of the company who upon seeing Buffy's new outfit stood staring with mouths agape.
"It was a gift," she told them.
"From who?" Legolas asked.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Buffy felt Boromir poke her and she rolled her eyes. "Galadriel gave it to me."
It was then that Buffy noticed that they all had received new clothes as well. Legolas handed Buffy a cloak made of beautifully woven grey fabric that matched the ones the rest of the company were wearing. It was lightweight but warm and Buffy clasped it with silver pin in the shape of a leaf. Suddenly the Lord and Lady appeared before the Fellowship along with several other Elves.
"Before you go," said Galadriel, "I have brought you gifts which the Lord and Lady of the Galadhrim now offer you in memory of Lothlorien.."
One by one the members of the Fellowship were called forward. Aragorn received a magnificent sheath for his sword, Anduril. Merry and Pippin got silver belts and Boromir a belt of gold. Legolas received a finely crafted bow that matched those used by the Galadhrim. For Sam the Lady put a little of Lothlorien's soil in a small box and promised that whatever he planted in it would flourish. Gimli, who had become enamored of Galadriel while in Lothlorien was granted his request for a strand of the Lady's hair. A phial of pure starlight was given to Frodo who hung it around his neck with the One Ring. Finally Buffy was called and she stepped forward.
"I am aware of the loss of your weapon and would not have you leave Lothlorien without a means to protect yourself." An Elf stepped forward with a set of exquisite daggers. The handles appeared to be of carved ebony with silver scroll work crawling up the pommel. The blades flashed in the light and elvish words were imprinted on the edge.
"This is too much," Buffy said. "First the mithril coat and the clothes and now this."
Once again Galadriel's tone made refusal impossible.
"Take these gifts along with the best wishes of the Galadhrim." The Lady leaned forward and placed a kiss on Buffy's forehead as she had done with Frodo. "You will do well, Buffy."
As the small boats the Fellowship steered down the river took them farther and farther away from the Golden Wood Buffy could see the light of Galadriel shining like a beacon through the trees. The moment the light was gone Buffy felt a hollowness at its loss and she vowed that one day she would return to Lothlorien.
