Part 10

Sauron watched as Dark Willow paced. She was like a caged tiger, danger in motion. Standing before her and trembling were the few Orcs that had managed to barely escape the battle with their lives.  They had hurried back to Sauron to report the defeat.

Seeing Sauron's protégé pacing and staring at them, they came to the conclusion that they may have seriously miscalculated that decision.  They watched in horror as she waved her arm at one of their own and he slowly rose in the air. He didn't move or twitch. The others weren't sure if it was from fright or that he was bespelled.

"So you were defeated. Not only were you defeated but you were defeated and ran."

"We thought to bring you the news." An Orc spoke up.

Dark Willow sent the Orc flying into the wall. "First, wasn't talking to you. Second, you don't think Sauron and I would know what is happening in the battle?"

The one remaining Orc that hadn't been bespelled or knocked unconscious wisely decided not to answer her question.

Willow turned her attention back to the frozen Orc.

"I think an appropriate punishment for a rat is to be a rat." Willow invoked Hecate and turned the Orc into a rat.

Sauron smiled behind his mask. The Orc would make a tasty snack for one of his Wargs. He motioned for one of his servants to pick up the former Orc. "Take it to the holding pen."

The Orc/rat began squealing in earnest.

Willow then turned her attention to the two remaining, "Bored, now." She flicked her arm and the two remaining Orcs disappeared. A small smile quirked her lips when she heard a frightened yell outside the window.

Sauron yelled, "Summon the Wolf Riders."

Sauron could feel Gandalf's approach. They were probably a week away. He thought to put as many obstacles in his way as possible. He wanted to make it as hard as possible for the others to rescue "their Willow".

He knew Willow was still fighting the other but he was no longer concerned with demoralizing her. His protégé now was an entity on her own and he wouldn't have to worry about Willow's feeble attempts to wrestle control back. He still had a bond with Dark Willow and but she was her own person.

~~~~

Angel nudged his horse closer to Buffy's. Buffy smiled at him over her shoulder, "So, how are you doing? Arm healed?"

Angel winced as he moved his injured arm. "I've forgotten how long it takes for a wound to heal, but I'll live." He got a sloppy grin on his face, "It's been along time since I've been able to use that phrase."

Buffy smiled and then turned serious, "Will you be alright when this is over? Going back to having your demon?"

"I still have my demon, it's always with me even now. I just have a heartbeat, no demonic visage but I still have Angelus needling me constantly. One of the reasons I want to be here for Willow when we get her back. I'll be one of the few who will REALLY know what she's going through."

"Do you think we'll get Willow back? I mean our Willow."

"I think she'll be forever changed but she'll still be our Willow." His lips quirked, "maybe a broodier version."

Before Buffy could make a smartass comment Legolas came galloping back towards them, "Wolf Riders approach."

Buffy turned to Angel, "I'm guessing this isn't a good thing."

Buffy and Angel kneed their horses to bring them abreast with Aragorn, Gandalf, Gimli, Xander and Wesley. Aragorn was talking animatedly with Legolas.

"So what are Wolf Riders and how do we kill them?"

"Kill them as you would any man."

A dark blur approached over the hill and headed straight towards them. Gimli gave a yell and quickly kneed his pony into a gallop right at the beast. With a feral laugh he swung his axe and quickly decapitated the Rider.

"That's how it's done." Gimli yelled back at Buffy and the others.

"Alrighty then, let's go!" Xander kneed his horse into a gallop and started to follow Gimli as more Riders came over the small hill.

Buffy swings her sword with agility and grace as she lops the heads off the Orcs as she passes.

Gandalf raises his staff which began to glow. The sky darkened and the wind began to howl.

"Oh just great, now it's gonna rain." Xander mumbled.

Legolas looked quickly over his shoulder at Xander, "Not a natural rain, my friend."

Before Xander could ask what he meant Legolas turned back and fired double arrows.

"That's five!" Legolas yells over at Gimli who grimaces and stalks another Rider.

Gandalf's unnatural wind is causing the Orcs to misfire and fall off their Wargs.

Aragorn sees that Wesley is holding his own and looks back over at Angel. Angel swings his sword and stabs the Orc attacking him. Aragorn yells a warning as another one is approaching Angel from behind. Before Angel can spin he feels the arrow entering from behind.

"ANGEL!" Buffy yells and quickly decapitates the Orc she was toying with and runs to Angel's side. With Angel dropping to the ground Legolas now has a clear shot and shoots the Orc.

Gandalf sees Angel has fallen and quickly dispatches the rest of the Orcs with his wind and rain of fire.

Angel grimaces in pain and looks at Buffy, "pull it out."

"I'll do more damage."

"Buffy, you have to pull it out. Break off the point and the feathers and give a yank."

Aragorn laid his hand on her shoulder, "If you cannot, I will pull it free."

"It's not that big of an arrow, I can pull it out."

Aragorn gave a small smile, "It was not your strength I was talking about. I know how hard it is to cause pain, even a little, for the one you love."

Buffy nodded but determined to help Angel she grabbed the front of the arrow that was sticking out of his shoulder.

Angel grunted when the tip broke off. His fingers grip the ground as Buffy breaks off the back of the arrow.

When she throws it down on the ground Legolas bends down to pick it up.

"This looks like an arrow that the Southrons use."

Buffy looked up and saw the grim looks on their faces, "Okay, I'm guessing that's a bad thing."

Xander sits down next to the fallen Angel and hands him a leather strap, "Here."

"Thanks." Angel bites down on the leather and nods for Buffy to pull the arrow out.

Angel's eyes roll up into his head and he passes out.

Buffy gently touches his shoulder. "Why did he pass out? He shouldn't have passed out. Even now that he's human he shouldn't have passed out from that."

"You are correct, Buffy." Gandalf says. "It is the poison that has taken over."

"WHAT!?! What poison?"

"The arrow is a Southron arrow and they use poison."

"Oh god, please tell me you can cure him. I-I can't lose him."

Aragorn points over to the nearby forest, "Legolas, look there to see if there is athelas."

Wesley stands, "I'll go with you, I know what it looks like and we can cover more ground."

Legolas nods and they make haste to the forest.

Buffy looks over at Gandalf, "Can't you cure him? You're a wizard. Isn't that something wizards do?"

"I am sorry my dear. This is a type of poison that even I cannot cure."

"Buffy, I'll need boiling water." Aragorn hands Buffy a flask, "There is a stream just over that rise."

"I'll get some twigs for a fire." Xander volunteered.

Buffy still didn't release Angel's hand. Xander gently placed his hand over hers, "He'll be fine, Buffy. The Powers wouldn't be that cruel as to make him human and then kill him in this realm. Let's go get that water and twigs."

Buffy slowly got to her feet and took the flask from Aragorn.