Part 8

Dark Willow laughed as the wind caressed her face and the dragon she was riding took a sharp turn toward Isengard. She was eager to stretch her magickal fingers so to speak. While at Barad-dur she had practiced some skills but she was going against a wizard. True her magick was fused with Sauron's dark magick which gave her a sort of power boost but it would still be a test. If she failed she had no doubt that Sauron would destroy this shell and she would no longer be a separate entity but back in the mists of magickal energy that made up Sauron.

She couldn't let that happen. She liked this shell and she liked being on her own. She smirked as she thought of the saying that came from the land of her shell. 'How are you gonna keep them down on the farm once they've seen Paris?' She didn't want to go back. She had memories of one that was called Ben that had been the other half of Glorificus. Her shell's memories of the one called Giles smothering him. Nope not gonna happen to her.

Sauron smiled as the dragons they were riding on banked and swooped down toward Orthanc. He knew that Saruman was aware of their coming and was even now preparing a battle. He would not be prepared for Dark Willow though. Oh he knew another magickal entity was with Sauron but the magick that Dark Willow wielded was a different kind than in their realm.

Saruman looked up into the clear sky and watched as the two dragons turned to land on his tower. He was surprised that Sauron would come alone. No Orcs, Trolls or Uruk-hai. That troubled him more than if Sauron had brought an army.

Saruman looked back at his own Orcs that were waiting his command. He knew he was no match for Sauron, he also knew that Sauron hadn't come to talk. Since he had sided with Glorificus he had been waiting for just this day. Maybe he could get back in Sauron's good graces if he defeated the one that was with him. Show him that he is still powerful. For he was sure to be impressed if he could destroy the shell that carried some of Sauron's dark magick.

Saruman's eyes widen at the site of Sauron's protégé. She was not at all what he was expecting. He was expecting another wizard. Granted not an old wizard like himself or Gandalf but what he wasn't expecting was a slender female. This would be easier than he thought. She was young and would not have the experience even if she did carry some of Sauron's magick. But he would be prepared in case she was like Glorificus and the package belied what was underneath.

"Hail, Sauron of Mordor."

Sauron nodded and led Dark Willow forward. "I have brought a guest who also brings sad news for you, Saruman. This is Willow, she comes from the realm Glorificus was banned to."

Dark Willow inwardly smiled at Saruman's slight widening of the eyes. With a sad mask on her face Willow sadly shook her head, "I'm sorry to say that Glory is no more. Yep, that's right. Ding, Dong the bitch's is dead."

"Y-you killed her." Saruman was beginning to have doubts. If this one were powerful enough to kill Glorificus then her added strength by Sauron would be enormous.

"Well, not me exactly. But I helped. I weakened her before another killed her in her human form."

Saruman began to relax. He had known the Ben persona would be Glory's weakness. That was why she was cursed with it before she was banned.

"Well let's see how you do against a full wizard." Saruman raised his staff and with a swing of his hand Dark Willow flew back against the room's wall.

Smiling Willow rose and an unnatural wind blew around her. She held out her hand and a ball of energy appeared and floated just above her palm. "Batter up!" She flung the ball at Saruman who hastily erected a shield.

The shield held but some of the energy got through and knocked him back a few steps.

Saruman raised his hand and an Orc took that as a signal and threw his axe at Dark Willow.

Saruman hadn't meant for the Orc to attack but watched to see how she would handle it. A wide smile crept across her face when the axe embedded in her back and she fell face forward.

Saruman turned to Sauron, "It must be different in her realm if she fell that quickly."

Sauron just watched with his arms crossed and didn't answer. Saruman was nervous at the no response. Had he not earned respect? Was Sauron here to kill him no matter what?

He heard a gasp behind him and turned back to where the Dark Lord's protégé should have been laying.

Dark Willow's magick pushes her to her feet and she just stares at Saruman. Reaching behind her she grabs the axe, "Axe just not gonna do it."

She turns and throws it back at the Orc catching him in the chest. "Now no more interference from you. Didn't your mother ever tell you to play nice with others?"

Saruman watches in horror as the entity stands and removes the axe that should have killed her. Was she an immortal? Did her magick and Sauron's keep her from dying?

He raises his staff again and sends a magickal blast her way.

Willow looks on in surprise as a shimmering field surrounds her. She touches it and it expands but it doesn't break.

Saruman mumbles an incantation and a white light glows and in an instant Willow has disappeared.

Huh? Willow looks around and sees that she has been teleported out of the tower room. She is standing on a tall tower that hovers many feet above where she was. Willow shakes her head in disgust. If Saruman were smart he would have teleported her into the air like she did Glory or at the very least kept the binding energy around her. Oh well. His mistake was her good fortune.

She sets her palms down by her side and facing the ground. With a thought she rises in the air and travels the air currents toward the room where Sauron awaited her.

The tower window wasn't big enough to fly through so she hovered just outside and with a flick of her wrists bricks began to fall to the ground.

Saruman watched as the window at the top of the tower began to get wider. When it was wide enough for Willow to slip through he watched as the slight form drifted down.

Sauron smiled behind his mask at his protégé. He didn't know that she could harness the air currents and fly. This was an unexpected bonus. One that he hoped would not be the last. He was looking forward to seeing what else their combined magick could do.

Before Saruman could do another binding spell or teleportation Dark Willow yells, "Irretite".

Saruman finds himself entangled in the ivy that is growing on the tower walls. The more he struggles the tighter the ivy becomes.

Sauron finally moves and stands next to Dark Willow. His gloved hand reaches up and softly caresses her hair. She closes her eyes in pleasure and tilts her head into his touch.

Saruman watches in horror as he sees that Sauron has chosen. He had seriously underestimated the combined magick of this one and Sauron. He accepts his fate as Sauron turns to look at him and waves his arm. A large magickal blast floats his way and he closes his eyes in resignation.

Gandalf screams in pain and lowers his head to Shadowfax's mane. Breathing deeply he tries to regain his composure. He felt Saruman's magick leave this plane and it was like a rip in his soul.

"GANDALF!" Aragorn yells and knees his horse close to his friend.

Gandalf raises his head but there are tears in his eyes. "He is defeated."

"Who?"

"Saruman. Sauron and the Dark entity have destroyed Saruman."

Buffy, Xander and Angel moan in pain. God what that must have done to Willow?

Xander softly asks, "Did Willow know what was happening?" Fearing the answer but wanting to know so he could help his friend when it was over.

Gandalf turned sad eyes to them and whispers, "Yes even though she is bound she still sees." Gandalf continues hoping to soften the blow, "But it is as a dream to her and she still fights."

Legolas closes his eyes briefly. She must truly be brave to have survived all that has happened to her yet still fight.