Part 2
The tinkling of the bell caught Giles' attention and he looked up from behind the counter. Seeing Willow enter the shop, he waved hello and motioned that he would be right with her.
Willow acknowledged Giles wave with a smile and walked over to the computer slipping in the floppy that she brought. While she waited for Giles to finish with his customer Willow looked over the information once more. Feeling Giles leaning over her shoulder looking at the screen Willow leaned back to give him better access.
"Hi Giles. I think I may have found something similar to the Opened Door of Heaven's Fire. Last night when I couldn't sleep I hit some of my favorite Wiccan sites and found this."
Showing him the information that she downloaded, she pointed to the title 'Portal of Celestial Fire'. "Do you think this is what the Elvish book is talking about?"
"Of course, now I remember. A few years ago I read an obscure essay about the Fairie Portal. I think I have it here somewhere." He pointed to the screen where it talked about the spell. "I think I might have that book on the back bookshelf. Will you see if you can find it while I search for the other one?"
Emerging from the back with an old leather bound book Willow began to flip through it. She glanced up when she heard Giles enter the room. "Find it?"
"Yes, but I don't think it'll be much help. It says about as much as what you found on the Internet. Does that book have the spell in it?"
"I think so. I found a couple of spells that talk about opening portals but none mention the Celestial Fire specifically." She pointed to one part of the book, "but I did find a phrase that mentions naar, which you said means fire."
Willow read aloud, "Tulla yelde ned naar o manduloomi entuulda Endor ar sanganelya balnna uluk."
As soon as she finished reading a wind began to blow through the shop. "What's happening, Giles?"
"I'm not certain but I believe you may have begun an Elvish spell. Is there a translation there?"
"I think so . . . yeah it says 'Come daughter of fire from Hell shadows return to Middle Earth and gather your power upon evil'."
Just then a flash of white light filled the store and blue lights began to swirl in a circle and then enlarge.
Giles had to shout to be heard over the wind, "I believe you may have opened a Portal."
"Oh that can't be good." Willow mumbled.
Out of the circle of energy a tendril of white light whipped out and headed straight for Willow. "GILES!"
The tendril wrapped around her ankle and began to pull her toward its center. Giles frantically grabbed hold of Willow's arms and began a tug of war with the energy.
"Hang on, Willow."
The energy began pulling both Giles and Willow toward its center. Passing a table Giles kept one hand around Willow's arm and the other he wrapped around the table leg. The wind picked up which added strength to the energy tendril pulling at Willow. Giles' hand began to slowly slip down Willow's arm until all he was grasping was her wrist. Bracing his feet against the floor he gave one mighty tug.
Unfortunately at the same time the energy gave a greater tug and Willow's hand slipped through his fingers. "WILLOW!"
Seeing Willow being dragged closer to the portal, Giles let go of the table and made a last ditch effort to grab hold of her. Another flash of energy filled the store and struck Giles in the chest sending him flying backwards across the store. The last thing he heard before blacking out was Willow's frantic call of his name.
~~~~
One minute she was in the Magic Box yelling for Giles while being sucked through a portal and the next she was standing in what looked like a deserted landscape with the portal in the sky above her getting smaller. She couldn't see any buildings or communication wires for miles. All she saw were rocks, a grassy plain and lots of nothingness.
"Well at least I don't think I got sucked into a demon dimension." Willow muttered as she looked around.
There was a small rise to her left and she decided to go that way hoping to see something, anything in the distance. Slowly walking forward she thought she heard a sound coming from the other side of the rise. Moving quickly toward the noise she reached the top of the small knoll.
Not too far away she saw a trio of men running in the opposite direction. The only spot of humanity anywhere that she could see was quickly running away. "Hey!" she yelled hoping with everything in her body that first they heard her and second that they spoke English and understood her.
Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli were half a day behind the Orcs that had kidnapped Merry and Pippin and they were slowly making up time. Aragorn and Legolas couldn't move as quickly as they normally would have while tracking because of Gimli.
Softly grumbling behind the others, Gimli tried to catch up. Aragorn stopped suddenly and held up his hand.
"Did you hear something?"
"You mean besides Gimli's complaints?" Legolas said with a half smile.
"Dwarves do not complain. I was merely pointing out that a little rest wouldn't hurt."
Aragorn held up his hand for silence and listened in the wind.
"HEY!"
All three warriors turned as one with weapons raised. They saw a slim female that was oddly dressed quickly approaching.
"Aragon, man kyar tak en?" Aragon, what do you make of this?
"Ni umist. Ensi nai yeera andelu." I don't know. She may be dangerous.
As Willow approached the three warriors she heard two of them speak in a language she had never heard before.
Willow mumbled, "Great. They don't speak English. I wish I knew a translation spell."
"You do magick, my lady?"
Willow's eyes grew wide as the shortest of the three spoke English to her. "A big yeah, you speak English. Yes, I CAN do magick."
The dark haired man narrowed his eyes as he looked at Willow. He didn't trust this red head who dressed and spoke oddly. The fact that she appeared out of nowhere and that she said that she could do magick made him think that she might possibly be an agent for either Sauron or Saruman.
Willow looked at the trio that stood around her. The blonde looked like his ears were pointed but Willow wasn't sure.
"How did you happen to be here, my lady?"
Willow smiled at the small man. "I don't really know. I read something out of a book and a portal opened. Once open the portal sucked me into it and here I am."
Legolas wrinkled his brow. The only portal that he knew of was the Mileneeme ned menel naar and surely this little one wasn't powerful enough to open an Elvish Portal without Elvish blood. "What portal?"
Willow turned to the blonde. "I'm not sure but Giles and I were researching something called the Open Door of Heaven's Fire. I'm not sure if that is what I opened or not."
Both Aragorn and Legolas stiffened at Willow's words. The fact that she was able to open an Elvish Portal without Elvish blood caused Aragorn to become even more distrustful of her. Very few Mortals know about that Portal and he had never heard of a non-wizard being able to open one.
"Are you a wizard?"
Willow was surprised at the question. She turned to the dark haired warrior that had asked it.
"No, I'm a witch. Are there wizards here? I thought wizards were myths."
As soon as she said it she thought, 'oh god, The Portal of Celestial Fire has the capability of turning myth into reality. SHIT!'
The three watched the range of emotions flit across her face. It ranged from curiosity to surprise to finally panic.
Gimli quickly came to her side and placed a hand on her arm. "Are you well, my lady?"
"Please call me Willow." Taking calming breaths Willow continued, "I'll be fine, thanks."
"I am Gimli, son of Gloin. This is Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood and that is Aragorn."
Aragorn turned to Willow, "I'm sorry, Willow but we can't stay here. We're searching for companions and we should be going." He turned to leave.
Willow panicked. They can't just leave me here. She blurted out, "Maybe I can help you find them or at least can you take me with you until you come to a place with people?"
Legolas answered before Aragorn could deny her request. "Rohan is not too far and in the direction of the Orcs. You are welcome to come along."
Aragorn narrowed his eyes at Legolas but he decided it would be better to keep an eye on Willow. If she wasn't a spy for Sauron or Saruman she was too powerful for them to find out about her. Legolas was correct it would be better if she were close by.
Willow smiled her thanks.
"Come, we must hurry."
Aragorn and Legolas took off at a very fast pace to follow the Orcs. Gimli began to grumble but picked up his pace also. Willow mumbled that she was glad she had worn her Nikes when the portal sucked her through and ran to catch up.
