Part 14

Buffy gasps in pain when her body hits the raging river beneath the cliff. Barely conscious she sees a dark form floating near by. Reaching out she is able to clasp onto Aragorn's shirt and keep him close. The current takes them perilously near the rocks on either side of the ravine. Aragorn notices that they are headed toward a beach and tries to use the current to steer his body that way. Buffy kicks and with her strength she's able to guide them and they come to rest on the beach.

Buffy reaches over and lightly slaps Aragorn. All she can remember from the many head injuries all the Scoobys had was that you weren't supposed to sleep.

"Aragorn, Come on. Wake up. I know I have Slayer strength and all but I don't think I'd be able to carry you all the way to Helm's Deep wherever that is."

Buffy lies down beside Aragorn trying to catch her breathe. She didn't think anything was broken but everything hurt. She felt a tickling sensation at her ear and she swiped at it and was surprised to hit a solid object. Buffy opened one eye and looked at the muzzle of Aragorn's horse.

Sitting up Buffy nudges the horse toward Aragorn who quietly mumbles something when the horse nuzzles his neck. He blearily blinks his eyes as the horse kneels down beside him. Aragorn grasps the horse's mane and pulls himself up. The horse still doesn't stand but waits patiently for Buffy to sit behind Aragorn. When both riders are settled the horse rises and begins the journey to Helm's Deep.

"Are you alright?" Aragorn barely whispers.

Buffy grimaces in pain, "Just peachy. You?"

He wearily lets his head droop down, "I am alive and that is all that matters."

~~~~

Wormtongue watches as Saruman paces angrily around his tower room. Word had come back that the warriors of Rohan were victorious AND the one Saruman wanted captured had escaped.

"The time for my assault on Helm's Deep is now."

"B-but my lord. It would take an army of tens of thousands."

An evil smile spread across Saruman's thin face, "Yes. Yes it would."

A loud noise echoes throughout the chamber and Saruman indicates for Wormtongue to look over the balcony. A silent tear escapes his eye as he sees just how much of a madman Saruman has become. Below in the open area are tens of thousands of Orcs and Uruk-hai.

"When the wall is breached Helm's Deep will fall. A new power is rising and its victory is at hand. March to Helm's Deep and leave none alive!"

There is a great roar as the massive army turns and heads towards their destination.

~~~~

Willow rests her head on Legolas' back as their horse steadily heads towards the stone fortress. She would never admit it out loud but she was worried about Buffy.  She was desperately afraid that Buffy's luck had run out. There were too many close calls, too many dodging of the bullet. There was a small fear in the back of her mind that thought maybe Buffy cheated death one too many times.

Legolas tightened his hold on Willow's arms that were wrapped around his waist. He tried to comfort her as much as he silently could. He had tried to get her to talk about her feelings but she stubbornly refused. It was almost as if she said her fears aloud they would come true.

Willow was snapped out of her gloomy thoughts by shouts of "Make way for the King. Make way for Theoden."

Willow's eyes grew wide at her first sight of Helm's Deep. No wonder Theoden was sure he could defend it. It was a massive stone building built into the side of a very large cliff face. A long stonewall surrounded it and it had a very large gate that was slowly opening to allow the King to enter.

Eowyn rushes forward when she sees her uncle's rag tag band of men enter the keep. "So few have returned."

"Our people are safe but we have paid for it with many lives." Theoden turns to the guards, "Bring all the forces behind the wall, bar the gate and set guards along the wall."

Legolas keeps his arms around Willow after she dismounts. Eowyn notices that Gimli, Legolas and Willow all look grim and she realizes that she didn't see Buffy or Aragorn in the stragglers that entered the stone fortress.

"Buffy? Aragorn? Where are they?"

Theoden sadly shakes his head and turns to leave for a meeting with his advisors.

"They fell, my lady."

Eowyn turns to the wounded and doesn't see them and that is when she realizes that they have fallen on the battlefield. She closes her eyes in grief. Though she didn't know them long she still mourns their passing.

Willow keeps holding Legolas' hand not wanting to break physical contact with him and moves next to Eowyn. "I believe they're still alive. I would feel it if Buffy died, I've felt it before when she died."

Eowyn turns shocked eyes to Willow, "She has died before?"

A small smile quirks Willow's lip, "Two or three times, I've lost count."

Eowyn shook her head in confusion. Maybe it was common in the realm where Buffy and Willow were from to die and return. She hoped the same luck that was with Buffy followed her to this reality.

~~~~

The horse that Buffy and Aragorn were riding shied suddenly almost knocking his two passengers off. Aragorn grabbed onto the mane tighter and Buffy whipped her head around.

"Ow! Note to self, don't whip head around after it's been smushed."

Buffy tried to focus her swimming eyes on whatever had spooked the horse but all she could see was a large dark mass. Blinking a few times her eyes finally began to focus and she gasped at the sight. What was a dark mass seemed to be thousands of beings moving their way.

Buffy nudged Aragorn, "Oh my god!"

Aragorn raised his head and looked in the direction that Buffy pointed. "It seems that Saruman has emptied Isengard. Hold tight."

That was the only warning Buffy got before Aragorn kneed the horse into a gallop. Buffy gritted her teeth against the jarring pain. She knew they had to get to Helm's Deep quickly but when she got back to Sunnydale she was gonna spend a week in a hot shower and another week at the mall. She was SO looking forward to civilization again.

 

~~~~

Willow wasn't paying attention to the shouting from the wall. Ever since Theoden told everyone to get in and lock down it had become organized chaos. It wasn't until she saw Gimli quickly make his way through the crowd that she knew something was happening.

Legolas' hearing picked up the words travelers approach and open the gate. He gently helped Willow to her feet. "Travelers approach and I think Gimli thinks it's Aragorn and Buffy."

Willow closed her eyes and felt for Buffy. Legolas' was entranced by the look of pure joy that spread across Willow's face.

"It's Buffy! I feel her!" Willow beamed and pulled Legolas behind her.

"Where are they? Out of my way!"

They could hear Gimli grumbling as he pushes his way through the crowd. Gimli grasps Aragorn's forearm in a warrior greeting, "Bless you, laddie. You are the luckiest man I've ever met."

"BUFFY!" Willow exclaims and drops Legolas' hand and runs to hug Buffy.

Buffy returned the hug not paying attention to the pain. She was just so happy to see that Willow made it all right.

Legolas blocked Aragorn's path and just looked at his friend. Not betraying the joy he felt at his survival.

"Le ab-dollen." You're late.

Aragorn just raised an eyebrow and his lips quirked.

Legolas reaches for an object and holds it out for Aragorn. He holds out his hand and Legolas drops it in his palm.

In disbelief he sees the Evenstar fall into his hand. His heart leaps in joy at the sight. He quietly says, "Hannon le." Thank you

"Where is the King? We have news."

"He is with his advisors. Come I'll show you." Eowyn had watched the reunion but hadn't wanted to intrude on the private moment between Legolas and Aragorn.