Part 12

Gimli pointed to the dark mass that was quickly approaching, "Be quick and grab you're weapons, the Nazgul are on the horizon."

Wesley quickly took Angel into the nearby woods and sat him near a rock outcropping. He handed him a sword, "Hopefully we'll hold them off enough that you won't need to use this."

Angel was silently cursing his weakness. Since the PTB had dangled becoming human in front of him he had been dreaming of it. But now that it actually was happening, if only temporary, he wasn't sure it was much of a reward. He hated the fact that he was weak and that he didn't have his vampire healing. Of course he loved to feel the warmth of the sun on his skin and the feeling of his heart beating either calmly or faster with passion or fear. He especially loved being able to be with Buffy without threat of anything.

He might talk to the powers when he got back about permanently anchoring his soul, blending demon and man. He'd still have the vampire speed, strength and healing. He could live with Angelus yabbering at him in the back of his mind. He'd put up with it for over eighty years he could put up with it for an eternity.

He watched helplessly as the others took their battle stances and Gandalf raised his staff.

"So when is the eagle coming to save the day?" Xander asked Gimli.

Gimli looked in the sky to the east but didn't see Gwaihir's familiar shape. "When he is most needed that is when Gwaihir arrives to help."

"All righty then." Xander looked over at Buffy and raised his eyebrows.

"Look out!" Wesley yelled as he saw a dragon swoop towards Xander, Buffy and Gimli.

Gandalf raised his staff and an arc of electricity flew out and hit the side of the dragon.

The dragon roared and rose in the sky to turn on his attacker.

Legolas was concentrating his efforts in distracting the other dragons from attacking.  He fired his arrows toward the underside and under the front legs where they were vulnerable.

Buffy, Xander and Wesley were firing crossbows trying to hit where Legolas told them they could do the most damage. It was difficult to aim, dive and roll all at the same time. They had to try to avoid the dragon's fire and the Ringwraith's sword.

Aragorn had told them how the sword of the Ringwraith could poison you and unfortunately only the healing powers of the Elves could save you and they were far from the elves.

Buffy and Legolas were having the most success in either harming or distracting the dragons. Xander looked up as a keening sound could be heard.

Gandalf's staff had an arc of fire erupting from it and toward the dragon and Ringwraith. He had waited until the last possible moment before using it.

Gimli and Aragorn were swinging their weapons as the Nazgul got closer. Xander smiled as he watched Gimli bait the Ringwraith until it would follow him. Gimli would duck behind a rock outcropping to avoid the dragon's fire then roll to the side and swing his axe as the dragon got within striking distance.

After Gimli executed a rather difficult tuck and roll he looked up into the sky.

"Ha! Young Xander, look into the distance."

Xander turned at his shouted name and looked where Gimli was pointing. There in the distance was another dark mass.

"Great more dragons."

"Nay, Xander that is Gwaihir the eagle and his young."

"That's the eagle?!"

Gimli smiled at Xander's expression. "Did we forget to mention that Gwaihir is the same size as the dragons?"

Xander just gave him a look and wondered if Gimli would understand if he flipped him off. Xander was sorely tempted to show Gimli his version of a bird.

Before Xander could make a smart ass comment the dragons turned as one to face the oncoming eagles.

There was a tremendous noise as the animals clashed in the sky. The eagle's claws and beaks did serious damage to the dragons and the Ringwraiths caught a few of the eagles with their swords.

The dragons ruffled some of the feathers with their tails and fire but in the end the dragons were no match for Gwaihir and his descendants. The Nazgul returned to the Dark Tower in defeat.

While Buffy turned to the others to make sure everyone was all right Gandalf went to thank his old friends.

"You and Landroval have saved me once again. Thank you old friend."

The eagle nodded regally and took off into the eastern sky.

~~~~~~~~~

Inwardly Willow was doing a happy dance she might even slip into a Snoopy dance she was so happy. Her other self and Sauron were less than pleased when the Nazgul returned with their tails between their legs metaphorically, of course.

She had been so worried about the fate of her friends but she should have known that if anyone could pull of getting rid of dead kings on dragons it would be Buffy.

She just hoped that her communication with Legolas telling him about Gwaihir helped. Willow hadn't wanted to risk communicating again. Not that Sauron or her Dark self would know but she didn't want to put Legolas' life at risk if she interrupted him at a crucial time.

Dark Willow walked to the tower window and watched as the Nazgul limped in. The eagle Gwaihir and its mate Landroval saved Gandalf yet again. She could make out claw marks and puncture wounds.

As the dragons returned she noticed that one of the Ringwraiths had disappeared. Dark Willow turned to Sauron, "I thought you said that they were not of the living nor of the dead and could not be destroyed."

"That is correct."

Dark Willow pointed to the riderless dragon, "Then where's the Ringwraith that rode that one?"

Before Sauron could answer the air around the dragon began to shift and glow. It looked like a ripple in the very fabric of space and Dark Willow had enough of Willow still in her that she was fascinated by the phenomenon.

Where once was a riderless dragon, a Ringwraith now sat upon it with his sword raised above his head.

Willow smiled slowly and turned to Sauron, "Very nice ability to have."