Disclaimer: Tolkien owns LOTR and all things Middle Earth, blah blah blah…
A/N: OK. I usually don't do this because I assume people actually read bio's and can see what my favorites are that way. BUT!!! I'm having such a blast reading this fanfic that I just had to plug it shamelessly. Go read It's Never Over by Moutons. It's the most amazing LOTR and Buffy x- over I've read – it's not perfect, but then nothing is. Now, when you finish reading this chapter and leaving me a review (like I wasn't going to ask), go read that story and leave a review for Moutons. Oh and by the way, thank you everyone for all the wonderful reviews you've left thus far. They really make me cheery. Now leave more. =)
Chapter 28 – Final Preparations
Wanting to cling to the night and hold back the day, Legolas awoke Alania with soft kisses as the sun just began to creep over the horizon. In the back of his mind he knew this would be their last peaceful time together for a while. Shutting out the coming day, he made love to her.
A while later, Alania was first to get out of bed. Quickly throwing on her clothes, she made sure he would meet her in an hour's time with the other elves in the large hall. Giving him a soft kiss as he dressed, she grabbed her leather pack and left to find Roxy and organize their inventory.
Ensconced in Roxy's room, the two women double checked their weapons. Roxy had shown a partiality to the sawed-off shotgun, so she had packed several rounds of ammo, as well as a few smaller guns. Roxy's genius was evident when she pulled out a scope with infrared to attach to the shotgun. Upon seeing this, Alania smirked and gave Roxy a questioning glance. "What? I got the idea when those things attacked at night and their bodies evaporated when exposed to sunlight. We need to be able to see them in the dark. You're just jealous you didn't think of it" said Roxy.
Alania, on the other hand, had packed with a bigger picture in mind. Once again unsure of where her instincts got their information, she had followed them and not only packed several pistols, but grenades. She had no idea what she would need them for, but her thought of them the night before as she watched the invading army approach gave her the idea for the cocktails they would be preparing later.
"Remember, under no circumstances are you to pull out these puppies out unless your life depends on it. We don't want Malficent to have any idea of our fire power. I'm worried he hasn't come just yet and is toying with us. These might be our saving grace. Got it?" asked Alania.
Roxy nodded in response.
"Roxy, I don't know what'll happen later, but…" trailed off Alania.
"I know chica. Me too" answered Roxy.
The two looked at each other and hugged tightly. Ending their hug, they put on their game faces and headed to meet the others.
Alania was surprised at the size of the group that met them in the Hall. She had thought there would only be the few key associations, but apparently word had traveled and several of Aerdin's captains came of their own volition. They had been impressed with the women's loyalty to a land that was not their own and it was known that Alania had the king's ear. They had determined to find out how the two would help them defend their land.
To demonstrate what a Molotov Cocktail was, Alania filled a jar with oil, stuffed a rag in it, sealed it with wax leaving a portion of rag outside, lit the rag and threw it hard into the Hall's enormous fireplace. A simple concept and someone would have eventually thought of it as all the ingredients were readily available, but it was Alania and Roxy who introduced it. Alania was most pleased with Aerdin's reaction; he was first astonished at the explosion and then a sinister gleam glinted in his eyes as he smiled wickedly. His only words to her were "Show me."
So the two spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon supervising the instruction, organization and distribution of hundreds of cocktails for use later. Many of these were sent to the first gate of the city and handed out with instructions by the captains who had joined them that morning. The rest were distributed evenly through the rest of the cities gate walls.
Dusk approached all too quickly, and Legolas pulled Aerdin aside to have a private word with him. "I know you will join your men soon enough, but I would beg of you to insist that Alania and Roxy stay in the keep with Gandalf. I will be telling her myself, but you know Alania can be somewhat headstrong. It might be best if we both asked her" he said.
Aerdin smiled and nodded. He was as eager as the elf to have them stay behind, but he had a feeling that this request would not be a problem. He would talk to her later before he left to join his troops.
Making ready to leave with Georn and his fellow elves, Legolas grabbed his quiver, bow and daggers. Seeing Georn in a corner talking quietly with Roxy, Legolas took the opportunity to find Alania. Catching her eye, he stepped out of the room and she followed.
Pulling her into his arms, he held her briefly and then kissed her hard. Pulling apart, he reached around his neck and removed the necklace he had been wearing since Rivendell. Alania said nothing as he clasped it around her neck. She gently fingered it and her other hand traced his jaw and lips. He saw her fear and concern for him in her eyes.
"I will see you soon melamin. I promise" he said.
"I know" she answered with a tight smile. "You've been in much worse situations and come out with nary a scratch. I have heard many of these stories about you. That will not stop my concern."
He toyed with a lock of her head and said "There is something I want you to do."
"What is it?"
"I want you to stay here with Roxy and Gandalf. I ask this not just for your safety and my selfish desire to worry less about you. The injured will be brought back here and will need attention. I hope you will do this."
"Of course" she replied immediately.
Legolas seemed to have not heard her, for he continued with his reasoning. "I know that you feel you should be up front with the others, but… Did you just agree me?" he asked incredulously.
Alania couldn't help the giggle. "I did sweetheart. I may be stubborn and outspoken and determined, but I am certainly not stupid. You couldn't pay me enough to stand in front of thousands of orcs and goblins eager to kill something. I'm going to stay right here with the all powerful and wise wizard. At least until he tells me to do otherwise."
Legolas actually found himself grinning before an imminent battle – a first for him. Giving her one final deep kiss, they entered the Hall together. Watching him leave, Alania called out to him. Seeing him turn to her, she ran up to him and said "Legolas, don't do anything stupid. Like get dead. I'll kill you myself if you do that." Seeing him give her a small smile in return, she whispered "I love you. Good luck."
Alania felt Roxy reach for her hand, and the two friends silently gave each other strength as they watched their lovers head into battle.
A/N: OK. I usually don't do this because I assume people actually read bio's and can see what my favorites are that way. BUT!!! I'm having such a blast reading this fanfic that I just had to plug it shamelessly. Go read It's Never Over by Moutons. It's the most amazing LOTR and Buffy x- over I've read – it's not perfect, but then nothing is. Now, when you finish reading this chapter and leaving me a review (like I wasn't going to ask), go read that story and leave a review for Moutons. Oh and by the way, thank you everyone for all the wonderful reviews you've left thus far. They really make me cheery. Now leave more. =)
Chapter 28 – Final Preparations
Wanting to cling to the night and hold back the day, Legolas awoke Alania with soft kisses as the sun just began to creep over the horizon. In the back of his mind he knew this would be their last peaceful time together for a while. Shutting out the coming day, he made love to her.
A while later, Alania was first to get out of bed. Quickly throwing on her clothes, she made sure he would meet her in an hour's time with the other elves in the large hall. Giving him a soft kiss as he dressed, she grabbed her leather pack and left to find Roxy and organize their inventory.
Ensconced in Roxy's room, the two women double checked their weapons. Roxy had shown a partiality to the sawed-off shotgun, so she had packed several rounds of ammo, as well as a few smaller guns. Roxy's genius was evident when she pulled out a scope with infrared to attach to the shotgun. Upon seeing this, Alania smirked and gave Roxy a questioning glance. "What? I got the idea when those things attacked at night and their bodies evaporated when exposed to sunlight. We need to be able to see them in the dark. You're just jealous you didn't think of it" said Roxy.
Alania, on the other hand, had packed with a bigger picture in mind. Once again unsure of where her instincts got their information, she had followed them and not only packed several pistols, but grenades. She had no idea what she would need them for, but her thought of them the night before as she watched the invading army approach gave her the idea for the cocktails they would be preparing later.
"Remember, under no circumstances are you to pull out these puppies out unless your life depends on it. We don't want Malficent to have any idea of our fire power. I'm worried he hasn't come just yet and is toying with us. These might be our saving grace. Got it?" asked Alania.
Roxy nodded in response.
"Roxy, I don't know what'll happen later, but…" trailed off Alania.
"I know chica. Me too" answered Roxy.
The two looked at each other and hugged tightly. Ending their hug, they put on their game faces and headed to meet the others.
Alania was surprised at the size of the group that met them in the Hall. She had thought there would only be the few key associations, but apparently word had traveled and several of Aerdin's captains came of their own volition. They had been impressed with the women's loyalty to a land that was not their own and it was known that Alania had the king's ear. They had determined to find out how the two would help them defend their land.
To demonstrate what a Molotov Cocktail was, Alania filled a jar with oil, stuffed a rag in it, sealed it with wax leaving a portion of rag outside, lit the rag and threw it hard into the Hall's enormous fireplace. A simple concept and someone would have eventually thought of it as all the ingredients were readily available, but it was Alania and Roxy who introduced it. Alania was most pleased with Aerdin's reaction; he was first astonished at the explosion and then a sinister gleam glinted in his eyes as he smiled wickedly. His only words to her were "Show me."
So the two spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon supervising the instruction, organization and distribution of hundreds of cocktails for use later. Many of these were sent to the first gate of the city and handed out with instructions by the captains who had joined them that morning. The rest were distributed evenly through the rest of the cities gate walls.
Dusk approached all too quickly, and Legolas pulled Aerdin aside to have a private word with him. "I know you will join your men soon enough, but I would beg of you to insist that Alania and Roxy stay in the keep with Gandalf. I will be telling her myself, but you know Alania can be somewhat headstrong. It might be best if we both asked her" he said.
Aerdin smiled and nodded. He was as eager as the elf to have them stay behind, but he had a feeling that this request would not be a problem. He would talk to her later before he left to join his troops.
Making ready to leave with Georn and his fellow elves, Legolas grabbed his quiver, bow and daggers. Seeing Georn in a corner talking quietly with Roxy, Legolas took the opportunity to find Alania. Catching her eye, he stepped out of the room and she followed.
Pulling her into his arms, he held her briefly and then kissed her hard. Pulling apart, he reached around his neck and removed the necklace he had been wearing since Rivendell. Alania said nothing as he clasped it around her neck. She gently fingered it and her other hand traced his jaw and lips. He saw her fear and concern for him in her eyes.
"I will see you soon melamin. I promise" he said.
"I know" she answered with a tight smile. "You've been in much worse situations and come out with nary a scratch. I have heard many of these stories about you. That will not stop my concern."
He toyed with a lock of her head and said "There is something I want you to do."
"What is it?"
"I want you to stay here with Roxy and Gandalf. I ask this not just for your safety and my selfish desire to worry less about you. The injured will be brought back here and will need attention. I hope you will do this."
"Of course" she replied immediately.
Legolas seemed to have not heard her, for he continued with his reasoning. "I know that you feel you should be up front with the others, but… Did you just agree me?" he asked incredulously.
Alania couldn't help the giggle. "I did sweetheart. I may be stubborn and outspoken and determined, but I am certainly not stupid. You couldn't pay me enough to stand in front of thousands of orcs and goblins eager to kill something. I'm going to stay right here with the all powerful and wise wizard. At least until he tells me to do otherwise."
Legolas actually found himself grinning before an imminent battle – a first for him. Giving her one final deep kiss, they entered the Hall together. Watching him leave, Alania called out to him. Seeing him turn to her, she ran up to him and said "Legolas, don't do anything stupid. Like get dead. I'll kill you myself if you do that." Seeing him give her a small smile in return, she whispered "I love you. Good luck."
Alania felt Roxy reach for her hand, and the two friends silently gave each other strength as they watched their lovers head into battle.