Part 15

Buffy shivered. If there was any doubt that the creature that was stalking Gimli wasn't Willow it had been quickly squelched when she pulled the axe out of her back.

Angel cursed not being able to rely on his vampiric speed as he raced toward Gimli and Willow.

Aragorn looked over his shoulder at Gandalf to see how he was doing in his battle with Sauron. He debated between the Willow/Gimli struggle and helping Gandalf. He watched as Gandalf mortally wounded the dragon and it began to dive toward the ground.

Xander yelled at Wesley, "How are we to wound that Dark creature if even an axe to the back can't? We're not killing her. It's still Willow in there."

"You and Legolas seem to have a bond with Willow that goes beyond the Dark Magick. Maybe if we distract her you both can reach Willow. The three of you should be able to defeat her with Willow working from the subconscious. At least enough so that we CAN wound her."

Dark Willow saw Angel and Buffy rapidly approaching and a thought struck her. She called on her magickal energies and two spheres of energy appeared in her palms.

She hurled one first at Gimli and the other at Angel. The blobs surrounded them and held them immobile.

"What's a Slayer to do? She has a choice . . .play the hero and save the innocent." Willow pointed to Gimli. "Or be selfish and save her love?" Willow indicated Angel.

Buffy watched horrified as Angel struggled against the blob. He seemed to not be able to catch his breath.

Dark Willow smirked, "Oh don't worry. If he dies in there he'll just become a vampire again. The Reincarnation Gauntlet spell will be reversed."

Buffy looked over at Wesley for confirmation. She almost sagged with relief when he nodded.

Buffy started toward Gimli but Willow's next words stopped her in her path.

"Of course the sun is up and we don't know if he'll go poof here or not."

Buffy looked at the creature wearing her best friend's face and saw her evil smile.

~~~~

Aragorn raised his sword as he approached Gandalf and Sauron. His sword, Anduril once belonged to Isildur and was used in the first war against Sauron and Glorificus.

He hoped Anduril still contained whatever it had when it first defeated Sauron.

He swung swift and hard while Sauron was distracted from Gandalf.

Sauron shrieked in pain as Aragorn's sword cut off his arm.

Gandalf gathered the energies around him and used his staff as a focal point. An arc of energy flew from his staff and into Sauron just as he screamed in pain.

Sauron felt his body slowly fade from existence. He closed his eyes and gathered his dark magick around him. His body was leaving but his essence was absorbed into the magick surrounding him. He poured all of his energy into sending it to his protégé.

Her shell would become his new vessel.

"NO!" Gandalf screamed as he felt Sauron's purpose.

Gathering all the magick that he could he concentrated on sending it to Willow. He called on Lady Galadriel and all the magick of the ancients to join with his.

~~~~~

Buffy watched Angel's pleading eyes. She knew what he wanted her to do. Save Gimli. He didn't want another innocent's death on his conscious.

Before Buffy could strike her blow the energy from both Sauron and Gandalf traveled through the energy field that Dark Willow had constructed.

The fields exploded in a maelstrom of color and energy.

The force of the explosion momentarily blinded Legolas, Xander, Wesley and Buffy.

~~~~

Galadriel appeared to Willow as she struggled with her other self. She placed a barrier between Dark Willow and herself. The barrier surrounded Galadriel and Willow.

"Are you an angel?"

Galadriel softly smiled as she approached her. "No. I am Galadriel of Lorien. Gandalf has called upon the ancients from the Undying Lands to help you in your struggle."

Willow wryly grinned at her, "I can use all the help I can get. I never realized how stubborn I was until I had to fight myself."

Galadriel leaned down and placed a soft kiss on the top of Willow's head. "Always remember the power of the light is with you."

~~~~~

Xander was quick to recover and looked toward Willow. He knew that Buffy and Wesley would take care of Angel and Gimli. He needed to help Willow. It was now or never.

Legolas threw a quick glance at Gimli and saw Wesley run toward him. He knew that his friend would be well taken care of. His decision made, he used his Elven speed to reach Willow.

Before either he or Xander could get close to Willow, the magicks of Sauron and Gandalf hit Willow simultaneously. They watched stunned as Willow's body was lifted into the air and suspended. It twitched and jerked.

"What's happening?"

"There is ancient magick here. I feel the power of my people and the dark power of Maia."

Gandalf and Aragorn rapidly approach. "It is her struggle now, we can not help."

"I don't accept that. We have to help Willow."

He slowly walked toward Willow's suspended body. "Willow, I know you're in there and fighting. I just want you to know that you're my best friend and I love you. I'll be there for you no matter the outcome of your battle. Dark haired Willow with the badass mojo or red haired Willow who's been with me since the first day of kindergarten."

Willow's body began to jerk more forcefully.

"Xander stop!" Buffy cried as she came up beside him. "You're hurting her."

Gandalf laid a hand on Buffy's shoulder. "No, Willow's fighting harder."

Buffy tried, "You're my best friend, Will. Everyone thinks I'm the strong one but I'm not. You are. You're always there for me. I'll always be there for you, too. No matter what happens. I love you, Willow."

Angel slipped a comforting arm around Buffy and pulled her close. "You were the first real friend I made, Willow. Even as a human I never had many friends. You accepted me unconditionally and I accept you unconditionally. Always."

With each word of love and support Willow's body jerked harder. Her hair would remain black but her eyes would turn green or her hair would begin to return to its natural red color only to have her eyes turn dark. The internal battle continued.

Legolas decided to try a different tactic. He closed his eyes and concentrated. He felt the immortal magick of his people flowing through his veins, he felt the ancient power of the Earth and his connection to it.

His heart rate calmed and his breathing slowed to an almost stop. As he meditated he felt the connection to his body begin to fade.

He appeared in a wooden glen and saw Willow and Dark Willow focusing their power through the staffs they wielded. They each hit the other with deadly accuracy. He saw that Willow was winning but her stamina was beginning to fade.

As Legolas got closer he noticed a white glow surrounding Willow. He felt Galadriel's presence and knew that she had bestowed the power of the ancients on Willow. It was a rare gift to be given to one from the race of Man.

He softly approached not wanting to startle Willow. When he was close enough he reached behind him for his knives and hurtled them toward Dark Willow.

Xander watched in horror as blood began to appear on Dark Willow's shoulder and her thigh.

"What's happening?"

"Look!" Wesley yelled and pointed to Willow's red hair.

Willow's body gave a final jerk like a master puppeteer cut the strings. She slumped unconscious to the ground.

As she fell so did Legolas.

"Legolas!" Gimli yelled for his friend.