Part 3

Spike softly growled, "Would you sit down, you're pacing is not going to get the poof here any faster!"

Xander stopped mid-pace, "Maybe not, but it seems to annoy the hell out of you so I'm thinking I'll just keep doin' it."

Spike just rolled his eyes, grabbed a cigarette and went outside to wait for Angel. He was angry and frustrated. Angel was coming again with information that would save Buffy. Ever the hero to come and save his soulmate. Would he ever get out of the shadow that was Angel?

His relationship with Buffy was just turning from obsession to something more. Maybe not more romantic but something that he could live with. At the sound of a car pulling up to the front of the shop Spike ground the cigarette out.

Wesley and Angel were greeted with anxious and worried expressions.

"Sorry it took us longer than we thought but I had to make a stop first."

"Quite all right." Giles turned the open sign to closed and locked up. "Let's go into the back."

Angel looked around to see Dawn just sadly looking at him. He gave a little half smile and opened his arms. Dawn reached Angel in about two strides and clung to him.

Spike came in from the back just in time to see Dawn race into Angel's arms. He clinched his jaw and a muscle ticked in the corner.

"Angel."

Angel softly disentangled from Dawn, "Spike."

Wesley and Angel sat next to the others. Wesley pulled out his book to show Giles what he had on the portal to Edoras. Giles read the text and then glanced first at Dawn and then to Wesley.

Wesley nodded and waited for Giles to tell the others.

"It seems that no magick and no incantation can open the portal."

"How do we open it then?" Xander had years of learning Giles speak. He knew that Giles was holding something back.

Giles sighed before answering Xander. He flicked his eyes over to Dawn and then down to the table. "Only the blood of the key can open this portal."

Spike placed a hand on Dawn's shoulder, "Not gonna happen. You are NOT gonna use niblet's blood."

Dawn bit her lip. She would do anything to get Buffy and Willow back. Especially since they both took her place in the portal that she was supposed to go through.

Dawn gave Spike's hand a squeeze. "H-how much blood?"

"Dawn! We're NOT using it." Spike was not going to let anything happen to Dawn. He had promised Buffy that he would take care of her and there was no way he was going to screw that up. Especially now that Angel was here to save the day.

"Yes, yes we are." Dawn jumped up. "It's my fault that the portal opened and that they're missing. I'll do ANYTHING to bring Buffy back."

Giles pulled her into his embrace. He placed a soft kiss on her head, "Buffy wouldn't want you to do ANYTHING that would cause you harm to bring either her or Willow back."

Dawn just looked stubbornly at everyone. She had the equivalent of Willow's Resolve Face.

"I believe just a few drops would do."

Spike glared at Wesley.

Wesley ignored him. "I believe that a few drops would open the portal enough for a few of us to get through."

"How would you get back then? Dawn is not going with you!"

Spike's fierce glare stopped Dawn from protesting.

"Of course not, Spike." Angel glared at Spike. "Besides we wouldn't put her in danger, we can't afford to let Sauron get his hands on her. It's bad enough that Willow is there."

This brought a surprised look from everyone especially Xander. Not that Angel was protecting Dawn but that he had mentioned Willow and not Buffy.

Xander nodded, "We can use Buffy's blood. Her blood closed the portal so I bet it would open it."

"So who's going?"

"You mean besides me?" Xander asked.

Giles looked around at the faces. "I'll stay here since the other Slayer will be going to Cleveland. Dawn is definitely staying here."

"I'm staying with Dawn." Spike said mutinously.

Angel just rolled his eyes. "Fine. Xander, Wesley and myself will go."

Spike bristled but he wasn't going to leave Dawn.

"That's fine, Dead Boy but how are you going to survive if it's like twenty four hours of sunlight?"

Angel pulled on a long glove and held out his arm.

Giles' eyes got wide and he asked with a voice filled with awe, "Is that what I think it is?"

"Yes. It's why we were late. I had to stop and get this from a friend. It's a Reincarnation Gauntlet."

Giles looked at Wesley, "Are you sure about this?"

"It'll only last as long as we are in Edoras. The spell that will activate it will be tied to the portal home."

"What exactly is this Reincarnation Gauntlet?"

"Just as the name says. It brings something dead to life again."

"So Angel will be human?" Dawn asked.

Angel smiled at her, "Not permanently. Just while in we're in Edoras."

"Do you have to keep it on all the time? What happens if something happens to it?"

"Nothing. Once the spell starts it's complete. The Gauntlet just acts as a conduit for the spell."

~~~~

Buffy looked at her surroundings. Well it must not have been a hell dimension that she fell into. There were trees nearby, grassy meadows and she heard water in the distance. It was too pretty to be a demon dimension.

A man on horseback approached. He was wearing a cloak that covered his face so Buffy had no idea if he was human or not. Buffy searched around for a weapon if needed. Not seeing anything but a branch she broke it in half and held it like a stake.

The man watched as the petite blonde picked up the branch and held it like a weapon. This was someone that noticed their surroundings and used it. He kneed his horse closer and threw back his hood.

"Are you all right, my lady?"

Buffy looked behind her but didn't see anyone. She quirked her eyebrows at him, "Me? I'm fine."

"I was a distance away when I saw you fall."

Buffy felt a shudder and looked around to see what caused it. Aragorn looked up and saw a Dark Rider approaching. He kneed his horse closer and grabbed Buffy's forearm and swung her up behind him.

"Come, we must hurry."

Aragorn's horse galloped toward the wood and under the shadows of the trees.

Buffy looked up and saw a dragon with a rider fly overhead. On the back she noticed a red head. She hadn't been hallucinating when she fell through the portal. Willow had come through as well.

"WILLOW!"

Aragorn clamped a hand over her mouth and glared.

Buffy glared right back and forcefully took his hand away.

"I apologize, but you mustn't let the Dark Rider hear or see us."

"He's got my friend on the back." Buffy pointed to the slight passenger hanging on to the Dark Rider.

Aragorn looked up and saw Willow sitting on the back of the dragon. He felt pity for her. Only the strongest survive their captivity with Sauron. He turned sad eyes to Buffy.

"I am sorry."

Buffy glared, "Don't say that like it's over. I'm going after her. Where would that thing go?"

"Mordor. He is a servant for the Dark Lord, Sauron and he'll take her to Mordor."