iblyEnjoying it? Not much more now with any luck. That is of course if FF.net doesn't keep screwing up. Hmm. Have just read the most complimentary description of 'Mary Sues' ever. Actually made them seem like a good idea. Was up on one of my Yahoo groups after someone asked for a definition of them. Was tempted to point out flaws until I remembered just how many of the damn things I had read on that particular group and restrained myself as I wasn't in the mood to be kicked off the list. Ah well – maybe I'll do it tomorrow instead! LOTR ain't mine. Neither is Buffy for that matter…

BloodSugarSexMagik.

I gulped. Vampires were not something I'd had previous experience with. And I wanted to keep it that way. Unfortunately for me it seemed that fate had other ideas.

"What is this creature?" Veborion asked noticing the way I was slowly edging backwards from the vampire.

"Vampire. Immortal. Drinks blood. Evil. Will kill us." I stated, continuing to try and put as much space between the vampire and me.

Veborion frowned. "You are afraid of this 'vampire'?" He asked puzzled by my obvious fear.

"Veborion," I said not even bothering to look at him, "this thing will kill us. In a very nasty manner. So for once in your life could you be a little less dense and figure out a way to kill it?"

Veborion glared. If I hadn't have been so worried about the vampire I would have laughed. Glaring is his answer for everything.

***

The vampire closed the small distance between it and us in what seemed like no time at all. Then he grabbed me and began to sink his fangs into my neck. Veborion could only look on in utter disbelief. And to my eternal shame I whimpered. Yes, me, fangirl who had faced off orcs, spiders and even an elven-king's hug. I was absolutely petrified. Fortunately fate decided to take a hand on my side for a change.

I was beginning to loose consciousness when suddenly I felt the fangs being ripped from my throat and watched as the vampire exploded into dust in front of my face. I was stunned.

"Fuck me." I said in awe realising who was standing in front of me with a wooden stake in her hand. "Buffy?!"

***

The blonde looked at me and frowned. "Do I know you?"

"Err. No. Not really. You just look like…" And how was I going to explain this one I wondered. 'You just look like someone who isn't real in a tv show about vampires called Buffy The Vampire Slayer' is not going to go down too well with someone who is actually the REAL Buffy the Vampire Slayer. "Someone I know. Called Buffy." I finished lamely.

A noise came from somewhere in the trees. Buffy shot off to see whether it was another vampire and Veborion and I were alone again.

I sank to my knees. The loss of blood from my neck was beginning to affect my senses and I could barely stand. Veborion crouched down and inspected my neck.

"It looks bad." He stated.

"Really?" I asked weakly. "Feels worse."

"It needs to be treated."

"I would never have guessed." I drawled. "Don't suppose that besides being a Prince you're also a doctor are you?"

"I have a few healing skills but none to deal with this."

I groaned. Now I was going to bleed to death from a vampire bite in the middle of Mirkwood forest? "Life sure has a lot of twists and turns." I commented gazing up at the sky. I took a breath and pulled myself to my feet.

"Well? Come on then." I said to Veborion who was looking up at me with a very surprised look on his face as I started walking away from him.

"But…" He stopped himself from saying whatever he planned to and instead said, "Where are we going?"

"Palace. Sooner I get fixed up less likely I am to drop down dead." I paused and added an incentive "Don't want everyone thinking you left your new wife out here to die now do you?"

Something in my sentence obviously meant something to Veborion as for the first time since I had met him he paled.

He caught up with me and grabbed my hand, pulling me back to face him.

"What?"

"The Palace is this way."

***

At some point I passed out. I don't recall much about the journey only that when I came to Veborion was carrying me. I could have fooled myself with the thought that he was worried about me, but I knew that wasn't true. In reality it must have been something to do with what I had said earlier. As unconsciousness reclaimed me I wondered exactly why it had bothered him so much.

***

Eventually I woke up in a bed with my neck bandaged. I yawned and surveyed my surroundings as I stretched.

"Hmm. Palace." I said as I noted the style of the room I was in. "Not Vebby's room. Wonder where hubby dearest is?"

Moments later there was a discreet knock on the door.

"Come in."

"Ahh you are awake at last." Said a voice.

I looked up. Not Vebby. No far worse. Elven-king with a penchant for hugging. Or beheading depending on your circumstances. Then I remembered something. Something that everyone else in Middle Earth believed in. Something that I really would rather forget. And avoid. My 'marriage' to Veborion.

"Ahh. Hello King Thranduil." I said, not for the first time wishing I was far away from him.

***

The king however was not there to discuss the wedding for which I was truly grateful for. Instead he wished to talk about the creatures that wished to take over Middle Earth.

"Veborion did not see them clearly. Do you know what they were?" He questioned.

"They never told me, but there was something familiar about them…" I trailed off and shook my head in frustration. "If I could just remember what it was!"

"There, there dear." Thranduil said patting my hand reassuringly, "Do not trouble you pretty little head about these matters. Just concentrate on getting better so you and my son can…"

And I was never more grateful to see Veborion walk into the room without knocking beforehand. I REALLY did not want to know where Thranduil was going with that particular sentence.

"Father, there is a problem with the others." He said gesturing at me. "A big problem."

I frowned. 'The Others'? Had he just seen the film or something? Then it dawned on me. He meant the others who had come to Middle Earth like me. He meant the 'Sues'.

I gulped. Now what were they up to?

Idiot.

**************************

No more from Buffy – although I am a fan. *grins* Not much more on this story either so R&R now please!