A/N: Thank you to all that read and enjoyed my journey into Middle Earth. Thank you so much for your kind words, they were greatly appreciated.
Part 17Legolas, Aragorn and Buffy follow Theoden into the Keep passing many of the injured.
Willow shakily gets to her feet when she sees them walking her way.
Legolas and Buffy rush over to Willow who smiles in reassurance. "I'm okay. Just a little woozy."
"I'm doing okay, too thanks for asking." Haldir said with a smirk.
"If you hadn't been so slow you probably wouldn't have gotten hit." Buffy answered and waited expectantly for the eye twitch to start.
Before Haldir can reply Willow interrupts. "How bad is it?"
"Bad. You think you can work more mojo?"
"Darn tootin'."
Legolas and Haldir exchange looks and both mouth, 'darn tootin'?
Legolas slips his arm around Willow's waist as they make their way over to Theoden and Aragorn who are in deep discussion.
Theoden glances around at the
people that are injured, dying and dead. "So much death. What can I do against
such hatred?"
"Ride out and greet them."
Theoden gives a sarcastic laugh, "For what? Death and Glory?"
Buffy points out the exhausted men, women and the young who were still trying to hold up the gate and continue the fight. "Look at them. They're tired and exhausted but yet they continue to fight. Can you do less?"
Out of the corner of his eyes Theoden watches Eowyn exhausted yet determined going through motions of showing a young girl the proper way to handle a sword. He then sees Legolas teaching Willow how to fire two arrows at once. Next to them is Haldir who is leaning against the wall and notching an arrow. He sees Gimli sharpening his axe in preparation for more Orc heads. He looks back at Aragorn and Buffy. If the people of Rohan and these strangers were willing to die in the fight against darkness, he as King would do no less than lead the charge.
"The Horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in the deep one last time."
"That's the spirit, lad." Gimli says as he sets his axe on his shoulder and goes to climb the steps that will take him to the horn.
Theoden signals for horses to be brought out. Before Willow can mount hers she sways on her feet. Haldir who is next to her puts a hand on her shoulder to steady her.
"Are you alright?"
Willow doesn't answer but stares into space.
"WILLOW! Are you alright?"
Willow blinks and smiles up at Haldir. "Yep, sorry. I felt someone pulling on my magick. Gandalf approaches. The closer he gets the more I can feel him."
Willow mounts her horse and knees it toward Buffy. They hold hands for a moment and Willow whispers, "I know it's selfish but I'm glad you stayed with me."
"No place I'd rather be than by your side, Wills. Okay maybe at the mall with a really good shoe sale going on but other than that I'd rather be here."
Gimli blows the horn of Hammerhand and the warriors holding the gate up move back. The gate falls into the keep and before the Orcs and Uruk-hai can enter Legolas, Willow, Haldir, Buffy, Aragorn, Eowyn and Theoden ride their horses through the horde.
Along the rise in the East behind the oncoming Orcs are hundreds of horsemen. Gandalf had found Eomer.
The Orcs were caught in the middle. Gandalf, Eomer and their horses were on one side and Theoden, his riders and the people of Rohan on the other.
The horses on both sides trample the Orcs and when they were close enough, the swords of the riders parted heads from shoulders. Legolas, Willow, Haldir and other Elves notched arrows and hit the proud servants of Sauron just at the neck and below the arm where they were the most vulnerable.
Gandalf's pull on Willow's magick began to lessen, as the two sides got closer to the middle. He didn't need the extra boost that Willow's magick gave him. Gandalf raised his staff and the sky darkened. The wind howled and lightning rained down on their enemies. Every strike hit an Orc but missed a warrior of Rohan.
When the last of the Orcs had either died or scurried away from the battlefield the wind died down and the skies began to clear. The two sides finally met in the middle.
I am definitely going to ask Gandalf if he can show me that, Willow thought.
Eowyn quickly dismounted and ran to her brother's side. Eomer engulfed his sister in a tight hug before looking over her head to see his uncle approach.
Theoden grasped Eomer in a fierce hug.
Willow dismounts and watches the reunions going on all around her. Father and sons, brothers and sisters are reunited. Thoughts of her own reunion that will never take place filter through her mind. She'll never see Xander, Buffy, Giles, Dawn, Spike or even Anya after this.
Legolas sees the emotions flit across Willow's face and the sadness that is etched there. He walks over to her side and silently sits next to her and pulls her into his arms.
Willow rests her head on his shoulder while he strokes her hair.
"What is it that troubles you, Melde?"
"Just thinking that I'm going to have to tell Buffy goodbye soon."
Legolas places a kiss on her head and holds her.
Buffy watches the interaction between Legolas and Willow. Willow hasn't said yet but Buffy knows Willow has decided to stay. She will miss her but if it had been her and Angel she would have made the same decision.
Gandalf approaches Buffy, "You're time has come, warrior. You're aide was most appreciated but you must return to your world. There is a danger rising."
Buffy rolls her eyes and looks over at Gandalf, "When isn't there a danger rising?"
Gandalf smiles, "You're friend is at a crossroad. She must decide where her path will lead."
"Oh I think she's already made the decision." Buffy looks back over at Willow who is just rising and turning their way.
Willow quietly whispers in Buffy's ear that she needs to talk to her. Legolas watches as Buffy and Willow carefully make their way away from the reuniting families for some much needed privacy. After what seems like hours but in reality is minutes he watches the two friends hug.
"Will she be able to communicate with her friends back in her own reality?"
Gandalf lays a comforting hand on Legolas' shoulder. "She may, but it will seem as a dream to them."
Legolas nods while still watching Willow and Buffy. That should give her comfort that she will not be completely cut off from her friends. Aragorn, Gimli and Haldir join their friends.
Aragorn, looking to where Legolas and Gandalf's eyes are asks, "Is all well?"
Legolas nods, "She is just telling her friend goodbye."
"Ah, the lass has decided to stay."
Haldir is strangely quiet as he watches the two friends. He finally acknowledges that he will miss the pain in the ass blonde but he is very happy for his friend Legolas.
Legolas notices the tears in both Willow and Buffy's eyes as they finally return holding hands. Buffy still holds Willow's hand as she embraces Legolas, "Take care of her."
He nods and whispers, "Always."
Buffy turns to Gandalf, "Whenever you're ready."
He moves them away from the crowd and into the trees where they cannot be seen. Gandalf raises his staff and begins to glow brighter. A wind blows and a small circle of light appears. As they watch the circle gets wider.
Buffy turns to Aragorn who clasps her forearm in a warrior's greeting. "It has been an honor to fight alongside you."
Not one to miss an opportunity of hottie closeness Buffy pulls him into a quick hug. She then turns to Gimli who has a suspicious glistening in his eyes. She pulls him into a tight embrace. "Thanks for your friendship."
Gimli hugs her in return and gruffly says, "You would have made an excellent Dwarf."
"Minus the beard I hope", Buffy laughs.
She then approaches Legolas and Willow who pulls her into a tight group hug. "Keep in touch, Wills and be happy."
"You too."
Buffy finally turns her attention to Haldir who is silently watching. She is debating between a good eye twitching before she leaves or something else. With a quirk of her lips she decides on the other.
With a mock frown she lightly cuffs Haldir on the arm, "Take care of yourself. I won't be around to save you anymore." As she watches the emotions play over his face Buffy jumps up and wraps her arms around Haldir's neck and places a kiss on his lips.
Buffy got a surprise of her own as she began to pull back Haldir wrapped his arms around her and returned her kiss.
Legolas and Willow's laughter brought Buffy out of her haze and she stepped back.
Buffy turned around and before entering the portal she turned to Willow and said, "You're right, Elf smoochies are better."
Buffy waved one last time to her best friend but the pain of separation lessened because she knew she would still be able to communicate with Willow. Gandalf had given her a necklace that would allow her to talk to Willow whenever she wished. Willow could communicate through dreams but Buffy could through any mirrored surface as long as she had the necklace.
Legolas pulled Willow tighter into his embrace as she watched Buffy disappear into the portal. The last thing Buffy saw as she turned in Sunnydale to watch the portal close was Legolas, Gimli, Aragorn and Haldir flanking Willow to give her comfort. Buffy smiled, Willow would be well taken care of in her new home.
