Crouching in a bush, Willow waited patiently and was soon rewarded. In front of her, a small army passed, heading to what she had learned was the road of the dead. She first recognize Aragorn leading the men towards it. A bit behind him, Legolas and Gimli followed on their horse. She stopped breathing and her heart jumped.
Three days ago, she had travel back in space and time. She had found a spell in one of Giles' book. They must have found out what she had done by now and she just hoped they wouldn't try to bring her back in Sunnydale.
Upon arriving in Middle-earth, she had stolen a horse in a deserted farm. There were no doubts to Willow that Mordor's army was closer to Gondor than they had thought in the fellowship. She had tracked down the entire crew only to find two different path at one point. The smallest part of the group had headed to the road of the dead. And so there she was.
When the Rangers were far enough, she got on her black horse and followed them slowly, hoping no one would hear her. She saw the men tense as they entered the road. Her senses had developped while away from Middle-earth. She had explored her possibilities after Legolas had told her she was an Elf. She always had better hearing than others, but now there was also sight, agility and magical powers. She could actually *feel* everything living around her. But right now, living dead was the most accurate word.
Mist covered the entire ground. She could feel spirits floating around, but they didn't scared her. Elves weren't concerned by restless human spirits so they left her alone. Maybe because she was an Elf... or maybe because they knew she was a witch and could do real damage to them if she wanted.
For the entire day, she followed the Rangers. Willow had done her best to keep the dead away, but she couldn't look everywhere at the same time. While she was not looking, some spirits took possession of five men. She couldn't save them anymore. Her main concern was getting Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas safe out of this damned road.
At dusk, the company broke into a wild run. Darkness was coming fast and they had to get out of the road. Their lives would be the price to pay if they weren't out of it soon. The horses galloped at high speed, Willow following them, her grey cloak hit by the wind. She felt the spirits closing on the Rangers and her dear friends. "Restless spirits, hear my words," she whispered. The dead ones slowed down. "I command thee, let those warriors in peace. Join the wise. Let their journey be as they ride against the dark lord. Be with them. Help them." The ghosts stopped completly, pulled between the need to do what they wanted and what the witch asked them to. "As I will it, so mote it be," she said forcefully.
Legolas cocked his head to the side. He turned his head around, but saw nothing but mist and shadows. He had been so sure to hear a voice behind them. But he knew better. Even after only two weeks being away from the redhead, he couldn't think of nothing else but her. Sometimes, he was so sure to see red hair not far from him or he thought he heard her voice. But eight hundreds years and an ocean separated them. It was getting harder and harder to be away from his heart. [I have to survive this battle,] he reminded himself. He had promised he would for her. He'd do his best to be faithfull to his promess.
Not far behind, a cloaked figure stood on a hill hiden in the shadows. A tear fell down Willow's cheek as she watched Legolas ride away. She missed him so much... But she had to be strong. She had to wait a bit longer. The element of surprise she brought with her could help the allies against Mordor's armies. Not wanting to lose them out of sight, she got back on her horse and it galloped as fast as it could to join the men.
* * *
"What is it, Legolas?"
The Elf glanced at Gimli seated beside him. "There is someone in the woods who's following our boats."
"Is it an Orc?"
"I don't think so. Orcs never go into forests alone." He examined the shore, trying to see a figure between the trees. "The presence is not threatening. It could only be one of those wild men." He sighed.
The Dwarf could feel the sadness pouring out of his surprising new friend. "I miss her too," he said with a smile. "Remember when she used to laugh at us both when we were bickering like two children?" He chuckled lightly. "I can almost remember exactly all the moves she made when kicking Boromir's ass near Caradhras pass. She was one strange girl." Gimli was quite proud of himself. He had finally made the Elf smile. Not once had he done it in two weeks, except when they had found Merry and Pippin dining in peace at the front door of Isengard, of all places.
"Thanks, Gimli. I needed that."
"Everytime you need it, just ask."
The Elf turned back to his observation of the shore. He had found an amazing friend in the grumpy Dwarf. He was glad that he was with him, especially when the one he wanted the most couldn't.
From the cover of the trees, two green eyes followed his every movement. Her horse was advancing slowly, at the speed of the boat. The redhead was wondering about what the blond Elf thought about. He seemed lost in his own world. Was he thinking of her as much as she thought of him? Of course, her mind turned sometimes toward the futur where the Slayerettes were. She already missed Spike and Anya, the only two who had understood her and her muteness and her pain. They had been the only ones who knew almost everything about her people. She missed the others too, but Spike and Anya had been the greatess help she could have found on the Hellmouth.
The redhead looked up at the dark sky. At first, she had been surprised when dawn never came. But darkness came with Mordor's armies. The war had already begun in Gondor. She only hoped they were not too late.
Finally tired, the witch jumped down her horse and climbed up a tree, ready to take a couple of hours sleep, even if she had to ride at high speed to regain the distance between herself and the boats.
Five hours later, Willow was already back on the road. She immediatly got her black horse to gallop, going as fast as he could. "Norolim, Will-o'-the-wisp. Norolim." She had been startled by the name given to the horse. Never before would she have thought someone would name his horse Will-o'-the-wisp. She liked it.
The horse gained so much speed, that the redhead could already see the boats only two hours after leaving her resting place. She was hungry, but didn't want to lose the Rangers out of sight a second time. They were too close to Gondor's city. She'd eat when they'd stop.
Suddenly, she could hear battle sounds. She was near, very near of the battlefield. She saw the boats coming alongside, the Rangers jumping on the shore, their horses following. The men rode to the fight, scaring the Orcs away. Willow waited patiently on the edge of the forest. She'd come out if her help was absolutly necessary. [No need to reveal my presence to the enemy this soon.] She'd just have to keep an eye on Gimli, Aragorn and most of all, Legolas.
A sound brought her out of her own world. She looked into the darkness and what she saw made her froze. Two yellow eyes were watching her. "You' re not easy to catch, you know pet." Spike grinned wickedly at the mute redhead. "Lucky me, I've got the nose to go with that night vision advantage. And look! I've brought you company."
Willow couldn't believe her eyes. Instead of forcing her to come to Sunnydale with a spell, they had all come to help her in the middle of the 13th century. Even the blond Slayer was there. She had finally listened to Spike and Anya when the redhead had disappeared a second time. Buffy understood the need Willow had. The one she loved was there and Middle-earth was beautiful... when it wasn't spoiled by the Orcs presence. They had come across a small group of those awful creatures when tracking down the witch. They were disgusting. She stepped forward and smiled. "Hi Will."
Tears fell down the Elf's cheek. They had all come to help her, even Buffy. She jumped off of Will-o'-the-wisp and ran into the arms of the Slayer. She squeezed her hard. "I'm glad you came, Buffy," she whispered. The blond statled upon hearing her best friend's voice. Willow chuckled. "I can't be mute all the time, can I?"
Xander took her in his arms. "Hey, Will. Glad to see you. We never thought we'd catch you. We took some horses on a deserted farm and we came as fast as we could. We even brought a surprise for you. Buffy was ok with it. It was her birthday present, but she agreed to lend it to you."
One of the horses had a wood box on it's back. Her memories went back to Buffy 17th birthday. [Happy birthday, Buffy. I hope you like the color.] Only Xander could have said something like that about a rocket launcher. She grinned evilly. "Lets keep it in case the Ringwraiths give us too much trouble."
"Ringwraiths?" Giles asked.
"Nazguls," the redhead replied. She saw the Watcher's face paled. "I see you know what they are." He nodded. Her stomach growled and she winced. "What do you say we eat something. The fight has stopped for a short while." They all nodded in satisfaction and sat down to eat what Willow had brought in her bag. "Tonight, eat all you want and rest. It may be a while since we'll have the chance to do it again. Tomorrow, we are officially in war with Mordor."
Three days ago, she had travel back in space and time. She had found a spell in one of Giles' book. They must have found out what she had done by now and she just hoped they wouldn't try to bring her back in Sunnydale.
Upon arriving in Middle-earth, she had stolen a horse in a deserted farm. There were no doubts to Willow that Mordor's army was closer to Gondor than they had thought in the fellowship. She had tracked down the entire crew only to find two different path at one point. The smallest part of the group had headed to the road of the dead. And so there she was.
When the Rangers were far enough, she got on her black horse and followed them slowly, hoping no one would hear her. She saw the men tense as they entered the road. Her senses had developped while away from Middle-earth. She had explored her possibilities after Legolas had told her she was an Elf. She always had better hearing than others, but now there was also sight, agility and magical powers. She could actually *feel* everything living around her. But right now, living dead was the most accurate word.
Mist covered the entire ground. She could feel spirits floating around, but they didn't scared her. Elves weren't concerned by restless human spirits so they left her alone. Maybe because she was an Elf... or maybe because they knew she was a witch and could do real damage to them if she wanted.
For the entire day, she followed the Rangers. Willow had done her best to keep the dead away, but she couldn't look everywhere at the same time. While she was not looking, some spirits took possession of five men. She couldn't save them anymore. Her main concern was getting Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas safe out of this damned road.
At dusk, the company broke into a wild run. Darkness was coming fast and they had to get out of the road. Their lives would be the price to pay if they weren't out of it soon. The horses galloped at high speed, Willow following them, her grey cloak hit by the wind. She felt the spirits closing on the Rangers and her dear friends. "Restless spirits, hear my words," she whispered. The dead ones slowed down. "I command thee, let those warriors in peace. Join the wise. Let their journey be as they ride against the dark lord. Be with them. Help them." The ghosts stopped completly, pulled between the need to do what they wanted and what the witch asked them to. "As I will it, so mote it be," she said forcefully.
Legolas cocked his head to the side. He turned his head around, but saw nothing but mist and shadows. He had been so sure to hear a voice behind them. But he knew better. Even after only two weeks being away from the redhead, he couldn't think of nothing else but her. Sometimes, he was so sure to see red hair not far from him or he thought he heard her voice. But eight hundreds years and an ocean separated them. It was getting harder and harder to be away from his heart. [I have to survive this battle,] he reminded himself. He had promised he would for her. He'd do his best to be faithfull to his promess.
Not far behind, a cloaked figure stood on a hill hiden in the shadows. A tear fell down Willow's cheek as she watched Legolas ride away. She missed him so much... But she had to be strong. She had to wait a bit longer. The element of surprise she brought with her could help the allies against Mordor's armies. Not wanting to lose them out of sight, she got back on her horse and it galloped as fast as it could to join the men.
* * *
"What is it, Legolas?"
The Elf glanced at Gimli seated beside him. "There is someone in the woods who's following our boats."
"Is it an Orc?"
"I don't think so. Orcs never go into forests alone." He examined the shore, trying to see a figure between the trees. "The presence is not threatening. It could only be one of those wild men." He sighed.
The Dwarf could feel the sadness pouring out of his surprising new friend. "I miss her too," he said with a smile. "Remember when she used to laugh at us both when we were bickering like two children?" He chuckled lightly. "I can almost remember exactly all the moves she made when kicking Boromir's ass near Caradhras pass. She was one strange girl." Gimli was quite proud of himself. He had finally made the Elf smile. Not once had he done it in two weeks, except when they had found Merry and Pippin dining in peace at the front door of Isengard, of all places.
"Thanks, Gimli. I needed that."
"Everytime you need it, just ask."
The Elf turned back to his observation of the shore. He had found an amazing friend in the grumpy Dwarf. He was glad that he was with him, especially when the one he wanted the most couldn't.
From the cover of the trees, two green eyes followed his every movement. Her horse was advancing slowly, at the speed of the boat. The redhead was wondering about what the blond Elf thought about. He seemed lost in his own world. Was he thinking of her as much as she thought of him? Of course, her mind turned sometimes toward the futur where the Slayerettes were. She already missed Spike and Anya, the only two who had understood her and her muteness and her pain. They had been the only ones who knew almost everything about her people. She missed the others too, but Spike and Anya had been the greatess help she could have found on the Hellmouth.
The redhead looked up at the dark sky. At first, she had been surprised when dawn never came. But darkness came with Mordor's armies. The war had already begun in Gondor. She only hoped they were not too late.
Finally tired, the witch jumped down her horse and climbed up a tree, ready to take a couple of hours sleep, even if she had to ride at high speed to regain the distance between herself and the boats.
Five hours later, Willow was already back on the road. She immediatly got her black horse to gallop, going as fast as he could. "Norolim, Will-o'-the-wisp. Norolim." She had been startled by the name given to the horse. Never before would she have thought someone would name his horse Will-o'-the-wisp. She liked it.
The horse gained so much speed, that the redhead could already see the boats only two hours after leaving her resting place. She was hungry, but didn't want to lose the Rangers out of sight a second time. They were too close to Gondor's city. She'd eat when they'd stop.
Suddenly, she could hear battle sounds. She was near, very near of the battlefield. She saw the boats coming alongside, the Rangers jumping on the shore, their horses following. The men rode to the fight, scaring the Orcs away. Willow waited patiently on the edge of the forest. She'd come out if her help was absolutly necessary. [No need to reveal my presence to the enemy this soon.] She'd just have to keep an eye on Gimli, Aragorn and most of all, Legolas.
A sound brought her out of her own world. She looked into the darkness and what she saw made her froze. Two yellow eyes were watching her. "You' re not easy to catch, you know pet." Spike grinned wickedly at the mute redhead. "Lucky me, I've got the nose to go with that night vision advantage. And look! I've brought you company."
Willow couldn't believe her eyes. Instead of forcing her to come to Sunnydale with a spell, they had all come to help her in the middle of the 13th century. Even the blond Slayer was there. She had finally listened to Spike and Anya when the redhead had disappeared a second time. Buffy understood the need Willow had. The one she loved was there and Middle-earth was beautiful... when it wasn't spoiled by the Orcs presence. They had come across a small group of those awful creatures when tracking down the witch. They were disgusting. She stepped forward and smiled. "Hi Will."
Tears fell down the Elf's cheek. They had all come to help her, even Buffy. She jumped off of Will-o'-the-wisp and ran into the arms of the Slayer. She squeezed her hard. "I'm glad you came, Buffy," she whispered. The blond statled upon hearing her best friend's voice. Willow chuckled. "I can't be mute all the time, can I?"
Xander took her in his arms. "Hey, Will. Glad to see you. We never thought we'd catch you. We took some horses on a deserted farm and we came as fast as we could. We even brought a surprise for you. Buffy was ok with it. It was her birthday present, but she agreed to lend it to you."
One of the horses had a wood box on it's back. Her memories went back to Buffy 17th birthday. [Happy birthday, Buffy. I hope you like the color.] Only Xander could have said something like that about a rocket launcher. She grinned evilly. "Lets keep it in case the Ringwraiths give us too much trouble."
"Ringwraiths?" Giles asked.
"Nazguls," the redhead replied. She saw the Watcher's face paled. "I see you know what they are." He nodded. Her stomach growled and she winced. "What do you say we eat something. The fight has stopped for a short while." They all nodded in satisfaction and sat down to eat what Willow had brought in her bag. "Tonight, eat all you want and rest. It may be a while since we'll have the chance to do it again. Tomorrow, we are officially in war with Mordor."