"I'll take you to Lord Elrond's study, I believe he's discussing present
affairs with Lord Erestor but that's dull and Lord Elrond's usually ready
to fall asleep if I leave them alone too long," Glorfindel smiled. He
didn't think that unarmed humans were anything to be worried about. He took
them up a flight of stairs and then down a long corridor before stopping in
front of a large set of doors then he knocked three times. He motioned for
them to stay where they were and he entered the study. "Good morning, my
lords," he said cheerily.
"Lord Glorfindel, what is so important that you have to disturb our
meeting?" Erestor asked. "During my morning inspection of the borders I
found Elladan, Elrohir, Estel and Legolas holding a group of what appear to
be humans and who seem harmless, they are unarmed although I did hear
something about witches."
"I take it this means the meeting is over?" Erestor asked.
"I'm afraid so, we'll reconvene later on perhaps," Elrond replied rising
from his seat. Erestor bowed and went from the room. "What was it this
time?" Glorfindel asked.
"The effect the ring will have on our financial situation, that and the
effects the hobbits will have on our food supply."
"I swear he thinks of the stupidest of things to talk to you about."
"So what of these humans? Where are they? And for that matter where are my
sons and the prince?"
"They're outside," he went to the door and told them to come in. Elladan,
Elrohir, Estel and Legolas went in first with the others reluctantly
following. When the group from Sunnydale got into the room the others were
talking again in the language in the book to a distinguished man in fine
robes. "That must be Elrond," Dawn whispered. Her comment drew them from
their conversation, "Welcome to Rivendell my friends, what is your business
here?" he asked
"Like we told Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum over there, we haven't got a
clue," Spike said glaring at him. "Well how did you get here?"
"I can answer that, I think there was a portal in a book I bought that led
us to your world," Giles explained after shoving Spike aside. "The name of
this book?"
"Dissertations based on the theories made during the Ages of Middle Earth
involving the One Ring, its making and its destruction by the hobbit Frodo
Baggins, The Fellowship of the Ring and The War of the Ring."
"I don't think we have that one in the library. Glorfindel said something
about witches?"
"Yes, but you've gotta understand Lord Elrond, sir, we don't know any witch-
king, and we're not bad witches," Willow babbled.
"Very well but I must ask you to prove this, there is some here who could
validate the magic you use, Elrohir, would you escort Gandalf to me?"
"Yes, atar." And Elrohir left.
"Who's Gandalf?" Tara asked quietly.
"He's a very powerful wizard, he will give us the answers we need. As for
the rest of you, I'm assuming your all human but we'll need to know your.."
"Excuse me mate, I'm not human." Elrond and Glorfindel looked at each other
for a brief second. "Well what are you then?" Elrond asked taking a step
towards them. "Vampire," he said crossing his arms in front of him. Elrond
and the others stared at him blankly. "Vampire, bloodsucker, kills by
sucking blood, child of darkness."
"Bloodsucker?" Elladan said, "Agaryulnaer!"
"Well done, Elladan, the rest of us made that connection several minutes
ago," Estel remarked dryly. "Dina, Estel!" Elladan retorted.
"Children, please the adults are trying to have a conversation," Elrond
smiled wryly at them, "Your names, if you would be so kind." They
introduced themselves again with Spike sighing loudly because he had to say
his name one more time. "What seems to be the problem, Master Elrond?"
Elrond explained to Gandalf what had happened and what he wanted him to do
with Willow and Tara. "All right girls, I believe I know of a place we can
go." On instinct Willow grabbed Tara's hand and they followed Gandalf from
the room. "What's he going to do to them?" Dawn asked.
"He's not going to harm them, just test their magic. Now, we have to find
out about the rest of you."
"Find out what?" Buffy asked.
"The fact is you didn't seem at all surprised about your friends being
witches so that means your amazingly tolerant or you already knew about
them and other things magical and what with the vampire I'd say the latter
were true," Glorfindel explained.
"Well you see I'm the Slayer and Dawn well she used to be energy called The
Key which could unlock the gates of the demon world into our world but we
think the energy has left her."
"Buffy," Dawn elbowed her.
"What? I'm just telling him who we are, most people in Sunnydale know who I
am anyway."
"Well they didn't know about me!"
"Be quiet, Dawn, anyway Giles used to be my watcher, a watcher is someone
who tells a slayer what to do and things like that. Spike usually gets in
the way," Buffy grinned at Spike who scowled.
"So what is a Slayer?" Legolas piped up.
"A Slayer slays vampires and demons, hangs around in cemeteries a lot,
things like that."
"Isn't Spike a vampire?" Glorfindel asked.
"It's a long story that isn't worth explaining," Spike drawled. Legolas,
Estel and Elladan looked at each other, smirking. "So who are you lot then?
What's with the pointy ears and weird clothes?" Spike asked.
"Spike, I have already told you they're elves, but I suspect Estel is not
an elf," Giles looked at the man in question. "No, I am indeed human."
Elrohir returned to the room then, "Atar, the hobbits are getting hungry
and are asking when the feast will start."
"I did tell them seven o'clock," Elrond said shaking his head, "Elladan,
you are aware that there is a rip in your leggings, you must change before
the feast."
"Legolas, this is your fault, you and your daggers!" Elladan swatted at his
head,
"You can't blame me because you are not agile enough," Legolas smiled. The
two started talking in Elvish as Elrond and Glorfindel began to move to the
door. Estel and Elrohir started laughing and Spike caught Glorfindel's arm,
"What the hell are they laughing at?" Glorfindel laughed aswell.
"Legolas keeps calling Elladan a dwarf and Elladan cannot match a insult to
that except to insult Legolas' heritage but as Legolas is Prince of
Mirkwood he wouldn't dare unless he wanted Legolas' bodyguards to pump his
body full of arrows," the two lords set off laughing. "Come, Elladan you
have to change and I advise the same for you Estel, Elrohir. Also, it seems
that you, my friends, will be among us for a while, I will have someone set
up some rooms and clothes for you," Elrond said and gestured for them to
exit into the corridor. "I ain't wearing no poncy clothes," Spike said
vehemently. "I've known you for five years and you've always worn the same
outfit except sometimes you wear a red shirt, just drop the smelly clothes
and wear something different for a change," Buffy sighed. Elrond set off
with Giles just behind him and Buffy and Dawn behind him. Estel and Legolas
followed them and then Spike came behind Glorfindel, Elladan and Elrohir.
Spike started to listen to their conversation which was in English "Did
Calenia come with you this time?" Glorfindel asked them. "Sorry,
Glorfindel, we tried to persuade her to come with us but she just didn't
listen, we're meeting her in Lothlorien again," Elrohir said putting his
hand on Glorfindel's shoulder. "Lothlorien is the only elven kingdom she
will set foot in. She will not come here because of you and she will not go
to Mirkwood because of Thril- Gaclya," Elladan explained.
"If she would only talk to me, I haven't seen her since she ran away with
the rangers," Glorfindel sighed. Legolas turned around and started walking
backwards, "Neither have I, even if I'm in Lothlorien and she's there she
will not come near me because Thril- Gaclya is always there with me." Estel
turned round aswell, "I was meaning to ask you how you got away from the
royal babysitter."
"Because Forfin wouldn't come and the rest of my brothers are busy with the
orcs in Mirkwood I now have the honour of only having to have a bodyguard
when I feel it necessary and when I travel so maybe it was a good thing Cal
didn't come with you, as much as I want to see her."
"Maybe," Glorfindel mused, "Legolas, Thril- Gaclya is staying close to you,
no doubt, when you see him next tell him I need to talk to him."
"Consider it done," Legolas nodded but Spike could see doubt creasing his
features as he turned round again. "Ah, Elril- Galia, would you set up
rooms for our guests," Elrond gestured to Buffy, Dawn, Giles and Spike.
"Willow and Tara will need a room too," Dawn spoke up.
"Of course, two more rooms," Elrond said.
"Actually only one," Buffy said. Elrond turned to look at her and she could
feel the eyes of the other elves drilling into her back, "Willow and Tara
are together so they'll be sleeping in the same room," Buffy explained.
"Buffy! What if they don't approve?" Dawn whispered.
"Why wouldn't we approve?" Elrond asked shaking his head, "An extra room
please, Elril- Galia and could you arrange some day clothes and some dress
clothes for this evening. Tara is about Calenia's size, Willow and Dawn are
about Arwen's size maybe a little smaller and Buffy is about Narcissi's
size. Spike I should wager would fit into some of the twins clothes and
Giles is the size of Erestor, we have no time to measure them just yet but
I believe the dress maker should have some clothes lying around or if not
then we'll just go through some wardrobes," Elrond's eyes twinkled telling
Buffy they would be going through wardrobes.
