Chapter Nineteen
"Prophecies Fulfilled"

The last of Barad-dur crumbled behind them, yet they barely noticed as they trudged along.

"I feel like we've been walking for years," Xander commented as he leaned against a nearby rock.
He let out an exasperated sigh then wiped his forearm over his head. "I'm not taking another step. I
refuse. In fact, I have a good reason to refuse. I can't take another step." He slid down the rock
until he was sitting then he looked over to Giles and Buffy who placed Willow in a sitting position
on the ground. "I take it we're going to stop for a while?"

Buffy nodded then sat down beside Willow. She was concerned about her best friend. Willow had
passed out sometime after they'd escaped Barad-dur and had yet to regain consciousness. She
brushed the hair out of Willow's face, then sat back against the rock she and Giles had taken to
resting against.

"Do you think Willow's going to be okay, Giles?" she asked looking over to him. "She was really
freaky when we were running away from Sauron's place. That stuff about Frodo and Sam
and some friggin' Ring. Is that the Ring that Pallando told us about?" She felt as though
she'd missed out on so much, being the prisoner in this whole drama.

Giles nodded. "Yes. It is. Was," he corrected himself. For the first time, he realized exactly what it
meant, that the Ring was destroyed. A smile crept to his face. "Sauron is gone forever, Buffy. He'll
never return. Middle-earth is ... free." He shook his head, the sense of joy finally catching up with
him. "The future is safe."

"That's good news," Xander said. "But ... do you really think he's gone? I mean ... " He shrugged.
"What if the past him tries to do it all over again? Use the machine? He could keep coming
after Buffy. After ... Willow."

"I doubt it, Xander. Sauron, in the past, doesn't know the future. He continues to believe that
kidnaping Buffy, drawing Willow and myself to Barad-dur, and God knows what else is key
to stopping his downfall." Giles removed his glasses and sighed heavily. His head tipped back and
he gazed up at the skies above Mordor. They were on the fringes of the territory now but with
Sauron's defeat, it was just a little less drab. "You can't change the past."

Buffy's head lifted when she heard Giles say that. Memories of Katil stirred in her mind. "He's
right, Xander," she quietly said. She looked over to them. "Sauron can't come after us again -
this is all in the past." Off of the curious expressions of the other two, she repeated the words that
Katil had said when Buffy asked why Sauron didn't go into the past, instead of the future. "His
power has limits. No one can undo the past for it is the model for the present and the future. Can
you remove the foundation of a house and still expect it to stand in the exact same way?"

Giles blinked. He was impressed by the eloquence of his Slayer. Clearing his throat, he
replaced his glasses upon his face. "Y-yes, that's an excellent way of phrasing it, Buffy," he replied.
He caught Buffy's pleased smile. He thought on her words for a moment. A revelation came upon
him. "My God ..."

Xander sat up, alarmed. "What? My God what, Giles? Please, don't tell me it's more bad. I can't
handle any more bad today."

"If we take what Buffy said and ..." He shook his head, eyes growing wide as he continued to place
all the pieces of the puzzle together. Standing, he paced back and forth, murmuring underneath his
breath. "My God ... my God ..." His hands brushed through his thinning hair then fell to his sides as
he turned his back on Xander and Buffy. "All of this time, we thought this was a mistake."

Buffy rose to her feet. "Giles, what are you going on about?" she asked. She moved in front of him,
worry now touching her features. She met his gaze then shrugged a bit. "Giles, what's the deal?
Are you planning to let the rest of us in on it?"

"The rip in time, the trip through Middle-earth, Sauron's kidnaping of Buffy ... it makes complete
sense," Giles explained. He took Buffy by the upper arms, surprising her. The intensity in his eyes
unsettled her as well. "It fits. We thought this was a mistake, but it wasn't. We were
always meant to come here, Buffy. All of this." He let go of her when he noticed the uncomfortable
look in her eyes. "I'm .. I'm sorry, I didn't meant to startle you."

"Startle me, no. Freak me the hell out, yes." She rubbed her upper arms. "You're getting really
scary, Giles. Can you explain it to us ... sans the freakiness?"

Giles paced back and forth now, thinking on everything. "The time rip - I'd been wondering how it
appeared out of nowhere back in 1999. The one we originally passed through to reach Middle-
earth. Now with this information about Sauron's time machine and his using it for his own gains, it
makes sense. That's what happened." He stopped pacing to look at the two teens. Both were still at
a loss. "Don't you see?"

Xander shook his head. "I lost you at the 'Oh my God', Giles. How was this meant to be?"

"As Buffy just said, the past cannot be changed. We weren't changing the past when we arrived
here." He paused then nodded when it became apparent that Xander and Buffy understood what he
said. "We were always meant to pass through that portal and come here. We played a part in the
downfall of Sauron. Somehow." His brow furrowed. "What that is, I'm not quite sure."

Xander looked to Willow, who was still zonked out. "He was awfully interested in Will. Maybe
that distracted him from the bigger picture?" he suggested. He looked over to Buffy and Giles.
"After all, if what she told us is correct, those two Hobbits managed to slip into Mordor unnoticed.
He was focusing his attention elsewhere."

"Yes, you ... you could be right, Xander," Giles said, slowly, as he considered what the teenager had
said. "Yes. It would ... it would be a fair assumption."

The three of them stood in silence, contemplating the enormity of it all. Buffy was the first to speak
after several minutes.

"Does that mean we're going home?" she asked. "Hey, it's great that we have a future to eventually
enjoy in our past." She paused, tried to figure out what she'd just said in her own mind then shook
her head. "Never mind. I don't even understand what I just said. Bottom-lining it, Giles - are we
going back or is this it?"

"I honestly don't know," Giles replied, quietly. He leaned against one of the rocks and lifted his
eyes to the sky once more. "No one knows the future."

Xander wrapped his arms around his legs as he drew his knees up to his chest. "I'm gonna be really
ticked off if I end up spending the rest of my life here."

Buffy joined him on the ground, placing a hand on his shoulder as she offered a smile. "Whatever
happens, we'll still have each other." She rolled her eyes. "How stupid did that just sound?" Her
cheeks flushed red with embarrassment. "If anything, my sense of melodrama has increased over
the last few months."

"It's not melodramatic, Buffy, it's just the truth. We *will* have each other." He put a hand on
hers then returned her smile. "But still ... an existence without television? Comic books? For the
love of God and all that is holy, a life with no *Star Wars*?" A pained whimper followed. "G-
Man, you have to get us home," he added looking back to him.

"We have to get out of Mordor first," Giles replied.

"Perhaps I could help you there, wayward travelers," said a voice from above them.

Giles turned and his face lit up in a smile unlike no other that Buffy had seen before. Maybe on par
with ones that he had when Jenny Calendar was alive. "Elenya," he breathed. He'd never
thought he'd lay eyes on her again but here she was. Worn from battle and travel, yet nevertheless,
here she stood in Mordor. In the flesh.

Elenya hopped down from the rock she'd been standing upon then wrapped her arms around Giles.
"You would not believe the journey I made to be here," she murmured. "When the Dark Lord fell,
it was felt throughout Middle-earth. She said that I must join you here, my love, that it was my
destiny."

Buffy smiled then looked away when Giles and Elenya kissed. Her eyes met Xander's then
she felt her face flush. Her gaze traveled back to the two adults, still holding tightly to one another,
gazing into each others eyes.

"We're glad to see you, too, Elenya," she dared to say. She smiled wider when both of them looked
to her. She waved. "Yeah. Hi. Other people are still existing around here, guys."

Elenya returned the smile but it faded when she saw Willow, who was unconscious and leaning
against a boulder. "What is the matter with Willow?" she inquired as she took a few steps towards
Buffy and Xander. She glanced back to Giles who only shrugged. "I have worried for her since her
return to Middle-earth. Is she injured?"

"No, she just passed out a couple miles back," Xander assured Elenya, jerking his thumb behind
him, indicating Barad-dur which was far from sight. "She was acting really weird before. I guess
she's okay now. We haven't been able to wake her up. Between us, I'd rather let her rest. She
hasn't had it easy the past few months."

Elenya nodded. "Yes, perhaps that is for the best, Xander," she agreed. She shifted her attention to
Buffy. "And you, Buffy. Are you well?" She came closer, reaching a hand out to her sister Slayer
which then rested on the young woman's cheek. "Few survive Sauron's imprisonment, free of scars."

"I'll be all right," Buffy quietly replied, looking away from Elenya. "It's over. Isn't that what
matters?" For the first time since their escape, she wondered what had become of Melek. He
must've been inside the Tower when it crumbled and perished along with the rest of the forces holed
up at Barad-dur.

"She said he told you about us," Elenya said. She raised her brow when Buffy met her gaze,
surprised. "Yes. You know of whom I speak. The one before me."

"Katil," Buffy whispered, her eyes wide now.

"She sent me to you. She told me that I must find you here." Her hand fell away from Buffy's
cheek, a sadness in her eyes now. "You should not think less of yourself as a Slayer for what has
happened to you."

"It certainly doesn't boost my ego, Elenya," she murmured. "And don't say that it was meant to
happen." She bowed her head. "That doesn't help, either."

"Buffy - " Elenya stopped, her head whipping around as she sensed something. It was close. Evil.
"Buffy, get down!" As she grabbed the younger Slayer by the arms, she pivoted to the left, moving
the girl with her. The whistle of an arrow caught the attention of Xander and Giles but before either
of them could determine the origin, it happened.

"Elenya!" Buffy said but gasped sharply when the point of an arrow burst through the front of the
other Slayer's chest. She blinked then looked from it to Elenya herself. "Elenya?"

The surprise in Elenya's eyes melted into acceptance, then, strangely, a smile appeared on her face.
"I understand now," she whispered. She dropped to her knees, bringing Buffy down to the ground
with her.

"Elenya," Buffy said again, tears welling up in her eyes. She swallowed. One of her hands reached
for the head of the arrow that glistened with blood. "I'm so sorry. This is my fault."

She shook her head, the smile growing wider. "No, it is destiny," she replied. She gasped. "Buffy
... "

"You thought you would escape me, Slayer?" Melek's voice called out. A laugh followed and he
drew another arrow from his quiver. "You and I have unfinished business."

Buffy's hand reached for Elenya's bow. Her eyes narrowing on Melek as he repositioned himself to
get a clearer shot at her. "Yes, we do. Don't we?" she growled.

"Buffy, don't!" Xander exclaimed as he took a few steps towards her. He froze when Melek
leveled his gaze on him. "Buffy, you know what could happen if you do it." He felt Giles come up
beside him. He glanced at the ex-Watcher - an indescribable expression was on his face. He
couldn't imagine what was going through the man's mind. Well, he actually could, and to let him
act upon those thoughts wouldn't do anyone any good. "Don't."

Her fingers wrapped around the bow and Melek's face cracked into a sadistic grin when she did.
"Yes, you want to kill me, don't you, my pretty maid?" he murmured. His own fingers flexed then
he placed the butt of the arrow to his own bowstring.

Buff's eyes closed. [I have to do this. It's for Elenya. It's for me.]

[You are not suppose to do this, Buffy,] Kail's voice answered. [It is not your destiny. Let go.
Allow me to fulfill mine. You must trust me. If you do not, you and your friends will surely
perish.]

"Buffy -" Xander stopped, his eyes widening as the Slayer, bow in hand, rose up to her full height.

"You do not kill humans, Buffy," Melek called out. He laughed, the sound of it echoing amongst
the rocks.

The Slayer threw her head back, bow and arrow in her hands in front of her. The girl standing in
front of them, however, was no longer a blonde-haired, fair-skinned Buffy Summers. "I am not
Buffy," Katil evenly replied as her eyes locked with Malek's. She raised the bow, taking aim on the
stunned man before her. "Brother."

Her hand released the string and the arrow cut through the air like a knife. Before Melek could
react, the arrow ripped through his neck, causing a sudden red gush of blood. Both of his hands flew
to the mortal wound but it didn't matter. He was dead before his body hit the ground.

Katil lowered the bow, slowly, a feeling of satisfaction within her. She looked over her shoulder to
Xander and Giles. Xander's mouth was partially hanging open, dumbstruck by what had just
happened. "Fear not for your love, Alexander," she calmly told him. "It was not she who has slain
that man. She only provided me with the vessel to do so myself."

The girl's eyes rolled back in her head and the bow clattered to the ground as she let it go. With a
tired sigh, the form of Katil morphed back into that of Buffy. The Slayer's legs began to buckle
underneath her.

"Buffy!" Xander bounded forward to catch her before she fell. When she collapsed into his arms,
he cradled her close to him. "Buffy ..." He brushed her hair away from her face and looked deep
into her eyes when they opened. His hand rested upon the pale cheek of the girl he loved more than
anything. "Is ... is that you?"

"I think so," she whispered. She shakily stood on her own two feet. "What happened?" Without
waiting for his answer, she turned. "Giles?" Her heart sank at what she saw before her. Giles,
kneeling on the ground, the body of Elenya cradled in his arms. He rocked back and forth, slightly,
but she didn't hear him crying. She didn't need to hear it, though.

"I'm sorry," Giles said as he drew Elenya's body closer. "I'm so very sorry, Elenya." First Jenny,
now her. Both murdered coldly. Both by Angelus. Well, Melek wasn't exactly Angelus, but he
certainly wasn't any better. And Giles faulted himself for them both. He should've been a better
protector. "I'm sorry."

Buffy took a step towards him, a hand reaching out but she froze when the screech of some sort of
bird came from above them. Instantly, three heads cocked back and eyes searched the skies for the
origins of the cry. Then Buffy saw it - large eagles. Two of which carried passengers.

"They're coming this way," Xander said as he placed a hand on Buffy's shoulder. He glanced up
again. "I think they're gonna get us out of Mordor."

She nodded. "The sooner the better," she murmured. She'd had enough of this adventure.

Enough of Mordor.

Enough of everything.

End Chapter Nineteen