Part 5

Buffy spent the night at the stone fortress that was Aragorn's home. He had taken her there as a compromise. She had wanted to set out immediately to find Willow and this Mordor place but Aragorn talked her into coming back with him and getting supplies, weapons and to talk to his friends.

She found out that his friends have been battling Sauron for years. They defeated him once but that was years ago and since he banished Glorificus he's been getting stronger. Buffy had an idea about why Sauron wanted Willow. Giles had been helping her with her magick since she restored Angel's soul and she had become very proficient in it. Giles had mentioned that she might surpass him in talent for it soon. Willow had tapped in to the darkness to help with Glory and had confided in Buffy that she liked the power, not the darkness part but the powerful feeling that it gave her. It made her feel like she was someone. And for Willow who had been emotionally abandoned from her parents and picked on all through school it was a heady feeling to be powerful. Buffy knew what that was like.

Her time with Faith during Senior Year had brought back those feelings of not so much superiority but that she could do what others couldn't. If Faith hadn't gone rogue who knew where Buffy's life would have lead.

A bright flash brought Buffy out of her thoughts. She looked up in the sky and saw with horror that a portal like she jumped into was opening. God, did that mean someone else found Dawn and bled her? She was going to kick some serious ass if that happened.

Buffy grabbed a sword and ran down the steps.

Legolas and Gimli noticed the newcomer grab her sword and run hurriedly to where the sky was opening. Never to turn down a fight or an adventure the two grabbed their weapons and made to follow her.

Buffy stopped in the middle of a grassy area and looked up. She dodged to the left just as a lightening bolt erupted from the portal. There was a male yell and then Buffy saw a dark haired form fall through and land with a loud thump.

Buffy raised her sword and went into battle stance while watching the form cautiously. Legolas had his bow notched with an arrow and pointed to the fallen form's back. Gimli hefted his axe and he came to stand next to Legolas.

Two more forms fell as the first one began to stir and turn over.

"Xander?"

Buffy dropped her sword and ran to Xander's side. "Xander!"

Legolas and Gimli both lowered their weapons when it appeared that the new comers weren't enemies.

Xander looked up into Buffy's face and raised a shaking hand to caress her cheek. "Hey, Buff."

"Xander, how did you get here? Dawn? She's okay, right?"

Xander smiled, "She's fine, Buffy. She's scared and sad and really missing you and Willow but she's physically fine." Xander stood and looked around. "Where's Willow?"

Before Buffy could answer him Angel and Wesley began to stir and she turned to look at them.

"Angel? ANGEL!"

Buffy went running over to Angel and then stopped suddenly. She looked up at the blazing sun and then back to Angel who was wearing a big, sloppy grin and holding a gauntlet in his hand.

Angel looked from Buffy to Wesley and said, "It worked, Wes." Turning back to Buffy he ran to embrace her.

Buffy laughed and didn't really care how Angel was there and not a pile of dust.

Legolas and Gimli just stood off to the side watching the happy reunion. Wesley saw the two men and went over to introduce himself.

Xander kept looking around for Willow and getting more and more anxious when he couldn't find her. A dark haired man was approaching and he went to meet him.

"Is Willow here?"

Aragorn looked at Buffy and then back at this young man. He didn't really want to be the one that broke the news that Sauron had his friend.

Buffy took Angel's hand, "How is this possible?"

Wesley overheard Buffy's question and with Legolas, whom he learned was an Elf, and Gimli, whom he also learned was a Dwarf, walked to the reunited lovers.

"Dawn offered a small amount of her blood to open the portal so that we could follow you and return with you and Willow."

"How are you not dust? Not that I'm complaining, but how?"

Angel held the gauntlet. "This allows me to be human while I'm here. No superior strength or healing though."

Buffy's smile widened, "So 100% human?"

"Temporarily."

Xander couldn't stand it any longer. He knew something was up with the way that Aragorn guy kept avoiding his questions and his eyes. "WHERE'S WILLOW?!"

Everyone turned to Xander who just returned their looks.

"Sorry I yelled but where is she?"

Buffy let go of Angel and walked up to give Xander a hug. "She's not here, Xan. Sauron has her."

Xander hung his head in grief. This was one of the worst-case scenarios that could have happened, the worst being that Willow was dead.

Xander straightened and a look of steely determination crossed his face. "So what are we waiting for? Let's go to this Sauron guy and get Willow back."

Aragorn was impressed with young man. He traveled through a portal to get to both Willow and Buffy. Aragorn handed him a knife.

"How are you with weapons?"

Xander concentrated and let 'soldier guy' come out to play. He turned and flicked his wrist letting the knife slice through the air. They watched as the knife hit the middle of a knothole on a nearby tree. Xander looked back at Aragorn, "I can also use a crossbow, sword and gun. But looking around I'm thinking you don't have guns."

With training this one could be a fine warrior, Aragorn thought. He turned to the others, "And you? How are you with weapons? Sauron and his followers will be difficult to defeat."

Angel took the sword from Buffy and swung it around his body gauging his strength. It had been over two hundred years since he held a weapon with normal human strength. It wasn't as easy as it used to be but he could still do some damage.

Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas watched with approval as Angel went through some warrior moves with the sword. He would be an asset in battle.

They all turned to look at Wesley. Angel quirked his lips and handed Wesley a sword while he took Buffy's. He was looking forward to the look on Buffy and Xander's face when they saw how much Wesley had changed since his time in Sunnydale.

Angel attacked and Wesley countered. It was their routine that they practiced with as much as they could. Gunn was more comfortable with an axe so Angel and Wesley would do their workouts with a sword.

Buffy and Xander just stared open mouthed at the fluid moves that Wes was doing. They could tell Angel wasn't holding back and even though he didn't have his vampire strength he did have great skill with a sword and Wesley was matching him move for move.

"Wow, Wes. You've been working out."

Wesley grinned over at Buffy. Aragorn nodded at those standing around. "We'll gather supplies and leave at first light."
 
"Is it far to Mordor?"
 
"Not in distance but there will be obstacles along the way. Especially when Sauron discovers we are coming."

Gimli grinned and looked over at Legolas. At last another grand adventure. He was getting bored of late.