A/N This chapter contains strong language & should not be read by anyone
under 17. Ok! ~Anoron.
*Flash*
It was the night after Joyce's funeral. Younger Dawn was alone in the house, doing the resurrection spell Spike had helped her prepare for.
Legolas looked at his companion curiously, but she just motioned for him to watch to figure out what was going on.
Younger Dawn was just finishing up when Buffy walked in.
"You have no idea what you're messing with. Who knows what you actually raised, what's gonna come through that door!"
Younger Dawn teared up. "No I- I know. It'll be her," she insisted.
Legolas gasped. The girl was trying to resurrect her mother! Older Dawn cringed inwardly and blushed. Not one of her finest moments. The sisters fought, and Legolas shook his head. This was no time for them to be acting this way, they needed each other.
"I'm not like you, Buffy. I don't have anyone," the younger sister cried.
Buffy stepped up to her. "What!? Of course you do. You have me."
"No I don't."
A sudden understanding dawned over Legolas. This was the crux of every argument Dawn had ever had with her sister: she could feel Buffy leaving her behind.
Older Dawn was watching him with a smirk on her face. "Proverbial lightbulb much?"
"You won't even look at me, it's so obvious you don't want me around," younger Dawn continued.
"That's not true," Buffy tried to reason, but her words were not having their desired effect.
"Yes it is," came the harsh reply. "Mom... died, and it's like you don't even care."
"Of course I care. How can you even think that?" Buffy's voice shook as tears sprang into her eyes.
"How can I not? You haven't even cried. You've just been running around like it's some big chore or something. Cleaning up after Mom's mess," younger Dawn spat out bitterly.
A loud slap echoed throughout the house as Buffy struck younger Dawn. Immediately, the Slayer regretted her actions. Her eyes widened in shock and her hand flew to her mouth.
"Oh! Dawn... I... I've been working... I've been busy, because I have to-" Buffy stammered.
"No! You've been avoiding me."
"I'm not! It's just... I... have to do these things... because, when I stop... then she's really gone."
Both siblings were crying now.
"And I'm trying, Dawn, I am, I am really trying to take care of things, but I don't even know what I'm doing. Mom always knew."
"No-one's asking you to be Mom," younger Dawn choked out.
"Well who's gonna be if I'm not!? Huh, Dawn? Have you even thought about that?" Buffy shot back. "Who's gonna make things better? Who's gonna take care of us?"
"Buffy..." younger Dawn sniffled.
"I didn't mean to push you away, I didn't. I just, I couldn't let you see me. Oh God, Dawny, I don't know what we're gonna do. I'm scared."
Both older Dawn and Legolas were now looking past the sisters, staring intently at the window. The curtains were drawn, but through the pale material they could see a silhouetted figure walking slowly by.
"Mom?" older Dawn breathed. On an impulse, she ran to the door, overcome with curiosity as to what she had actually raised that night. She tried to put her hand on the knob, but could not grasp it.
She tried again a few times, until she felt a pair of hands on her shoulders, pulling her away. Legolas drew back and sank down on the stairs, pulling Dawn into his lap.
No sooner had Dawn settled into Legolas' embrace than a dead knocking came at the door.
"Mommy?" Buffy breathed, childlike hope filling her voice.
The Slayer ran to the door while her younger sister snatched up the photograph of Joyce that had been dropped on the coffee table during the argument. Older Dawn clutched at Legolas' hands as she watched her sister and her former self racing against each other.
Younger Dawn won. Just as Buffy flung the front door open, younger Dawn found her courage and tore the photograph of her mother in half. Buffy stared out into the empty night, her heart breaking as younger Dawn approached her.
"Dawn," she sobbed, turning from the doorway.
"It's ok," younger Dawn comforted, wrapping Buffy up in a tight hug.
The pair sank to their knees, mourning and clutching each other tightly.
"It's ok."
*Flash*
They were in the Summers' living room again. Sixteen-year-old Dawn was sitting on the floor. Legolas looked puzzled. She was watching tiny people, much, much smaller than Hobbits, even, running around inside a strange box and speaking into a strange object.
"Well... what channel are you on?" younger Dawn asked, frowning into the phone.
Suddenly, a loud bang reverberated around them. Both Dawns and Legolas jumped, even though older Dawn knew it was coming. Still, this had been one of the most terrifying nights of her life, and almost three years between her and the memory couldn't change that. Younger Dawn started telling Kit about the sound over the phone as she muted the television and moved to the front door.
The door blew open in gale force winds and younger Dawn struggled to close it. "Ah! Kit, is there a storm?" she asked.
The television turned itself off mute. Younger Dawn hung up on Kit and stared at it. Legolas shuddered. He'd felt an evil presence seeping into the house.
Younger Dawn tried to silence the television, then turn it off, but even when she pulled the cord from the outlet it remained on, getting louder and louder. The stereo in an adjacent cupboard began blaring, too, and the small radio in the kitchen joined in the noise.
Grabbing an axe, younger Dawn smashed the television and the stereo. Legolas jumped, frightened by the sparks exploding from the electrical appliances. Older Dawn squeezed his hand reassuringly and they followed the younger girl into the kitchen. She was making her way to the radio when she noticed the microwave.
"Oh no," she moaned, a split second before it blew up, sending shards of glass flying at her. The force of the explosion knocked her back a few steps, embedding glass in her feet.
She recovered a little and was about to swing the axe at the radio when the music was interrupted by a strange frequency and a female voice.
"Dawn?" Legolas heard the voice coming over the speakers and recognised it as belonging to Joyce Summers.
Both Dawns froze a moment. Then younger Dawn grabbed the radio and took it into the living room with her. She was taping up the cuts on her feet and trying to call her sister.
"Buffy, please, pick up the phone. I don't know what to do," she was begging. She gave up on reaching her sister after several rings and turned back to the radio.
"Do it again! I heard you!' she yelled at it.
The banging started again.
"Once for yes, twice for no," younger Dawn breathed as the realisation swept over her. She repeated it louder, as a question.
BANG
"Mom?" younger Dawn asked hopefully. "Mommy? Is that you?"
BANG
Younger Dawn smiled with a sigh of relief. Legolas frowned. He still only felt the evil presence.
"Mom? Are you ok?"
BANG BANG
Younger Dawn's face fell. She became frightened again. "Are you alone?" she asked in a small voice, dreading the answer.
BANG BANG
They watched, transfixed by the scene as the lights cut out and the house was plunged into darkness. Then the room was illuminated in an eerie red glow and five words were scrawled on the wall in dripping blood: 'Mother's milk is red today'.
The house went dark again for a split second, and when the red light returned, all the wooden furniture just through the archway to the dining room was on the ceiling, upside down. Another second of darkness, and the furniture returned to normal. The evil presence was beginning to make Legolas feel physically ill. He clutched at his aching stomach and marvelled that niether version of Dawn, though both frightened, would quail beneath the darkness.
By the tiniest glow of the street lamps outside, younger Dawn thought she could make out the image of her mother sprawled on the couch. With his Dawn clinging to his arm tightly, Legolas peered at the couch and gasped. His Elvish eyes could see much more clearly. It wasn't an image of Joyce, it was a corpse.
"Mom, I see you," came the shaky voice. "I'm coming towards you, ok?" The girl was inching forward, about to reach out and touch what she thought was her mother.
Suddenly, with a flash of light, a demon was over Joyce's body, silencing her. Younger Dawn found herself thrown back, though she tried desparately to reach her mother and free her. The demon was growling at her to leave. She refused.
"No. She's my mother, and she needs to talk to me. I'm not leaving," she said, her voice shaking with both fear and anger. Making up her mind, younger Dawn set to work to cast the demon out. Angered, the demon started causing everything in the room, including the windows, to smash. Even though he knew they could come to no harm here, Legolas pressed his back against the wall, as far out of the way as possible, drawing his Dawn into his arms as they watched the scene.
The demon growled at the spellcaster, and pushed her around, throwing her back against the wall. It slashed her cheek, drawing blood. But younger Dawn was determined. She finally managed to cast the demon out.
As it was blown out of the house, younger Dawn shrieked, "That's right! Die you bastard!" The wreck of a house was quiet once more.
Younger Dawn fell face down on the ground, exhausted by her spell. She felt an etherial, warm light pulsing in the room and slowly looked up. Legolas and older Dawn pushed themselves away from the wall, staring towards the light with wonder.
It was Joyce. Legolas smiled. The light was so pure it seemed. So beautiful.
"Mom?" Both Dawns breathed. Older Dawn had never really figured out if this had been an apparition of her mother. Even when it became apparent that the First had surfaced, and was playing mind games with them, and Willow had told her about her own conversations with dead people that night, Dawn had never given up hope that her mother had been there to warn her. And, when she thought about it, Buffy had turned her back on Dawn when she'd died. She still couldn't be sure though. It wasn't like Buffy had offed herself or anything ridiculous like that, but she'd still left Dawn behind.
Legolas' smile all of a sudden faltered. He could see through the light. It was a facade. The pain returned to him so sharply that he gasped, again clutching at his stomach and doubling over. Older Dawn looked at him, worried, and helped him straighten. She slipped her arms about his waist to support him.
Joyce's image was speaking. "Things are coming, Dawn. Listen, things are on their way. I love you, and I love Buffy. But she won't be there for you."
"What? Why are you...?" younger Dawn stammered.
"When it's bad, Buffy won't choose you. She'll be against you." With that, the light, and the image faded. Legolas was able to stand by himself once more.
Younger Dawn was screaming, "No! No! Don't go! Please don't go!"
"No," she whimpered, breaking down into helpless sobs as she was left alone once again.
Older Dawn covered her mouth with her hand, remembering how much it had hurt when her mother had left her alone. Again. Legolas kissed the top of her head, hearing her voice murmur, "She left me."
He pulled her back to their eyes were level. "Dawn... that wasn't her," he said softly, but confidently.
A tear rolled down the smooth cheek. "Well, I always wanted to know... now I do," she attempted a brave smile.
"I am sorry, melamin."
*Flash*
The tower. Older Dawn actually groaned. "Why does my death keep coming back to haunt me?" she muttered.
Beside her, Legolas was frozen on the spot. He could see her, younger Dawn was tied to the edge of a platform, but she was now not so young. She looked exactly the same as she had the day she'd arrived in Middle-Earth. Exacty the same as the woman standing next to him. He recognised the dress that now not so much younger Dawn was wearing as the one she'd been wearing at their first meeting. Legolas sucked his breath in with a sharp hiss when he realised what this memory of Dawn's was. Her death.
A strange looking demon with a tail, Doc, was standing in front of the Dawn tied to the platform. She was helpless as he raised his kinfe and began making long, shallow cuts into Dawn's skin. She started to cry, more from the knowledge of what her blood was about to cause than from the pain. She was alone. Spike had come up the tower, he'd tried to save her, but he'd been defeated. She could see him sprawled on the ground so far away, unconscious.
Legolas fumed. His Dawn had to physically restrain him from trying to take Doc out himself. "Won't do any good," she reminded him softly. They were just observers here.
They heard a noise behind them, and stepped as far to the side as they could to allow Buffy to pass, not that she would've bumped into them anyway, they were only corporial to each other here. The Slayer stormed past, not giving Doc a second glance as she shoved him from the tower, one- handed. Legolas felt a small twinge of satisfaction as he heard the demon's screams before a dull thud echoed up to them.
Buffy was at her sister's side, yanking the bonds from her wrists and pulling her from the edge. But it was too late. Older Dawn and Legolas watched as a drop of blood trickled through the grated floor of the platform. It hit a certain point in mid-air, and an unearthly blue light glowed, accompanied by a sickening rip in the air.
The sisters stood side by side, watching. They were both crying silently.
Dawn softly spoke. "I understand so clearly now."
Buffy looked at her, sniffling. "What?"
"That it had to come to this- it's supposed to end this way."
"What way? The end of the world!?" Buffy burst out.
Dawn's voice was still calm and soft, her eyes staring straight ahead. "No. Not the end of the world."
It suddenly dawned on the twenty-four year old what her younger sister was saying. "Dawny, no! I won't let you!"
Legolas felt tears sliding silently down his cheeks.
Finally Dawn turned to Buffy. "This is the way it was meant to be." Buffy was shaking her head, but Dawn continued anyway. "I don't belong here, Buffy. I never belonged, even when you made me feel like I did. But I have to go now. I'll miss you, and I will always love you. Thank you for being my sister. But we both have our own paths to take now. You'll find your way, and so will I. Goodbye, Buffy."
With a final kiss to her sister's cheek, Dawn turned and took a running dive from the tower's platform.
"No!" Legolas burst out, wishing he could stop her. The logical part of his mind knew that she was ok- she'd drop into Middle-Earth, into his world and his heart. But she shouldn't have had to go through this, any of it. She was young and beautiful and sweet and she had deserved so much more from her life than it had given her. But still, she kept fighting. He knew she always would, like it was all she had. Like her sister. It hit him then, exactly how wrong he had been at Helm's Deep, what he had taken away from her. He hung his head in shame.
"Dawny," Buffy choked out in a whisper before crumpling in a heap, her body wracked with sobs.
Older Dawn, the only one left on the platform now, was crying too. She wished she could talk to Buffy, touch her, comfort her and tell her she was ok. She noticed Legolas, still beside her. His chin was so low it was almost resting on his chest and he was crying. She hugged him tight and felt him lock his arms around her.
*Flash*
With a final smile, Gandalf disappeared from outside Dawn's window. He'd done his best. Legolas looked around, blinking through the tears streaming down his face. They were back in Minas Tirith, he was standing with his hand less than a centimetre from Dawn's forehead. It seemed as if no time had passed here at all, while he had gone through Dawn's dreams, her memories with her.
He pulled away from Dawn, who hadn't stirred in the slightest, and silently climbed out the window. He had a lot of thinking to do. Outside, he leaned back against the stone wall of the castle for support and closed his eyes. Dawn had told him and Aragorn of many of the things he'd just seen, finding out she was the Key, the loss of her mother, facing the First, her own death, but to actually see it first hand, to be there and feel it and live it... Legolas shook his head, swiping at his wet cheeks. He would never understand how she survived her first life as long as she had, and how she had the will to continue fighting here.
* * * * *
Dusk settled over Minas Tirith. Dawn wandered high on the mountain above the city. She walked along the banks of a stream which burbled gently as it meandered down the hill. She was deep in thought, wondering what she was supposed to do with herself, now that the War of the Ring had been won. She guessed she would stay in Minas Tirith with Aragorn, but she didn't know what was really supposed to happen. Was she still an agent of the PTB? Or was she free to make her own destiny now? She was so caught up in her own thoughts that she failed to hear light footsteps approaching. A hand rested on her shoulder.
With a girlish yelp, Dawn spun to face the intruder. Her gaze instantly hardened when she found herself face to face with Legolas.
Legolas watched sadly as she instinctively took a step away from him, glaring. He had to make her listen somehow.
"Dawn... please listen to me," his deep blue eyes were as pleading as his voice.
Dawn forced herself to remain stony, praying her eyes did not give away her longing for the Elf. Since he'd been in her dreams the night before, and she had been able to forget her anger with him and touch him, she'd found the ever-present yearning for Legolas had become almost unbearable. She crossed her arms over her chest and cocked an eyebrow.
Legolas almost smiled. This was progress- she hadn't walked out on him at once, or skipped straight into abusing him. He took a deep breath and readied himself.
"I am sorry I hurt you."
She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. Her eyes told him to talk fast. So intent they were on each other that neither Dawn nor Legolas noticed the approach of another Elf, rounding a bend in the streamside path. A King of Elves. Thranduil stopped a short distance away from his son and the young mortal woman, who was really little more than a girl at a glance. Glad as he was to see his son, he instantly realised this was a very private moment and he should not interrupt. But Thranduil could not tear himself away, his curiosity over the girl and what the Prince had to do with her overwhelming him.
"I know I hurt you- betrayed you. But you have to believe I thought I was protecting you," Legolas saw that familiar green fire flash through her eyes and grimaced.
"It was wrong. I was wrong. It was the worst thing I could possibly have done to you and I can see that now. Dawn, I am so sorry."
The Elf broke off, unsure of what to do now. He could see she was thinking his words over, her eyes averted so he couldn't read them. But he knew she wasn't convinced yet. He decided to pull out all the stops and tell her the truth.
"I love you."
That got her attention. Dawn's eyes snapped up, locking onto his gaze. Emotions flowed through her so fast she did not even know how to identify them.
"Fuck you, Legolas," she hissed. "Fuck you."
He grimaced. He wasn't exactly sure what the words meant, but from her tone he was pretty sure he could guess. Blinking back tears he turned to leave, knowing he had lost her forever. His vision was a watery blur, so he did not notice his father taking cautious steps backwards to conceal himself from their view. Legolas had taken about three steps from the woman he loved when he heard her sigh behind him.
"I love you, Legolas," she admitted reluctantly.
Legolas flew back to her side. He fought the urge to wrap her up in his arms and never let her go. She was still upset, and he knew she had a lot left to say to him.
Dawn stared at Legolas. For so long now she had kept all her anger, pain and love bottled up and now it seemed this was her only chance to let it out. The Fellowship was preparing to break for the last time, they would most likely never all be together again. He'd laid his cards on the table, if she didn't do the same right now, she was terrified that he wouldn't be there when she was ready. God it was painful though.
She shook her head, tears welling in her eyes to match his. "It makes me sick, what you did to me. But it makes me sicker every time you look at me..." a sob broke out from her. Dawn's shoulders began to shake but she forced herself to choke the rest of her words out.
"Cause I love you so damn badly that I hate you."
Legolas froze. He wasn't expecting this, he didn't know what to say. The urge to hold Dawn, just like he'd held her on that night in Edoras, their night, was becoming unbearable. But he could do nothing but clench his fists by his sides.
Dawn was breaking down, letting it all go at last. "I hate you so much, Legolas," she sobbed. "I need you! Why don't you ever just reach out and touch me-?"
Dawn didn't have the chance to say any more. She didn't need to. Lightning fast, Legolas reached out his long arms and pulled Dawn into him, cradling her against his body. He kissed the top of her head, and when she turned her face up to him, he kissed her forehead, then her eyes. He kissed her tears away, trailing his lips down her face until they met with hers.
Thranduil sighed, watching their kiss deepen. He was more confused than ever, but he knew one thing was clear- his son's heart was lost to a woman, a mortal who was barely more than a child. But he sensed something deep and mystical running through the girl... Dawn, Legolas had called her. Perhaps Legolas was just drawn to her energy. The King almost prayed it was so, the thought of his only child bound to embracing mortal death was unbearable. He turned and left the lovers, who never even knew he had been there.
* * * * *
A/N: 2 part chapter, because it was just WAY too long to fit in one... even for me, I have a tendency to cram as much as humanly possible in each chapter! Hope the multiple Dawns didn't confuse you, coz I have to admit they actually confused me at times! As always, asking for you to R&R ~Anoron.
*Flash*
It was the night after Joyce's funeral. Younger Dawn was alone in the house, doing the resurrection spell Spike had helped her prepare for.
Legolas looked at his companion curiously, but she just motioned for him to watch to figure out what was going on.
Younger Dawn was just finishing up when Buffy walked in.
"You have no idea what you're messing with. Who knows what you actually raised, what's gonna come through that door!"
Younger Dawn teared up. "No I- I know. It'll be her," she insisted.
Legolas gasped. The girl was trying to resurrect her mother! Older Dawn cringed inwardly and blushed. Not one of her finest moments. The sisters fought, and Legolas shook his head. This was no time for them to be acting this way, they needed each other.
"I'm not like you, Buffy. I don't have anyone," the younger sister cried.
Buffy stepped up to her. "What!? Of course you do. You have me."
"No I don't."
A sudden understanding dawned over Legolas. This was the crux of every argument Dawn had ever had with her sister: she could feel Buffy leaving her behind.
Older Dawn was watching him with a smirk on her face. "Proverbial lightbulb much?"
"You won't even look at me, it's so obvious you don't want me around," younger Dawn continued.
"That's not true," Buffy tried to reason, but her words were not having their desired effect.
"Yes it is," came the harsh reply. "Mom... died, and it's like you don't even care."
"Of course I care. How can you even think that?" Buffy's voice shook as tears sprang into her eyes.
"How can I not? You haven't even cried. You've just been running around like it's some big chore or something. Cleaning up after Mom's mess," younger Dawn spat out bitterly.
A loud slap echoed throughout the house as Buffy struck younger Dawn. Immediately, the Slayer regretted her actions. Her eyes widened in shock and her hand flew to her mouth.
"Oh! Dawn... I... I've been working... I've been busy, because I have to-" Buffy stammered.
"No! You've been avoiding me."
"I'm not! It's just... I... have to do these things... because, when I stop... then she's really gone."
Both siblings were crying now.
"And I'm trying, Dawn, I am, I am really trying to take care of things, but I don't even know what I'm doing. Mom always knew."
"No-one's asking you to be Mom," younger Dawn choked out.
"Well who's gonna be if I'm not!? Huh, Dawn? Have you even thought about that?" Buffy shot back. "Who's gonna make things better? Who's gonna take care of us?"
"Buffy..." younger Dawn sniffled.
"I didn't mean to push you away, I didn't. I just, I couldn't let you see me. Oh God, Dawny, I don't know what we're gonna do. I'm scared."
Both older Dawn and Legolas were now looking past the sisters, staring intently at the window. The curtains were drawn, but through the pale material they could see a silhouetted figure walking slowly by.
"Mom?" older Dawn breathed. On an impulse, she ran to the door, overcome with curiosity as to what she had actually raised that night. She tried to put her hand on the knob, but could not grasp it.
She tried again a few times, until she felt a pair of hands on her shoulders, pulling her away. Legolas drew back and sank down on the stairs, pulling Dawn into his lap.
No sooner had Dawn settled into Legolas' embrace than a dead knocking came at the door.
"Mommy?" Buffy breathed, childlike hope filling her voice.
The Slayer ran to the door while her younger sister snatched up the photograph of Joyce that had been dropped on the coffee table during the argument. Older Dawn clutched at Legolas' hands as she watched her sister and her former self racing against each other.
Younger Dawn won. Just as Buffy flung the front door open, younger Dawn found her courage and tore the photograph of her mother in half. Buffy stared out into the empty night, her heart breaking as younger Dawn approached her.
"Dawn," she sobbed, turning from the doorway.
"It's ok," younger Dawn comforted, wrapping Buffy up in a tight hug.
The pair sank to their knees, mourning and clutching each other tightly.
"It's ok."
*Flash*
They were in the Summers' living room again. Sixteen-year-old Dawn was sitting on the floor. Legolas looked puzzled. She was watching tiny people, much, much smaller than Hobbits, even, running around inside a strange box and speaking into a strange object.
"Well... what channel are you on?" younger Dawn asked, frowning into the phone.
Suddenly, a loud bang reverberated around them. Both Dawns and Legolas jumped, even though older Dawn knew it was coming. Still, this had been one of the most terrifying nights of her life, and almost three years between her and the memory couldn't change that. Younger Dawn started telling Kit about the sound over the phone as she muted the television and moved to the front door.
The door blew open in gale force winds and younger Dawn struggled to close it. "Ah! Kit, is there a storm?" she asked.
The television turned itself off mute. Younger Dawn hung up on Kit and stared at it. Legolas shuddered. He'd felt an evil presence seeping into the house.
Younger Dawn tried to silence the television, then turn it off, but even when she pulled the cord from the outlet it remained on, getting louder and louder. The stereo in an adjacent cupboard began blaring, too, and the small radio in the kitchen joined in the noise.
Grabbing an axe, younger Dawn smashed the television and the stereo. Legolas jumped, frightened by the sparks exploding from the electrical appliances. Older Dawn squeezed his hand reassuringly and they followed the younger girl into the kitchen. She was making her way to the radio when she noticed the microwave.
"Oh no," she moaned, a split second before it blew up, sending shards of glass flying at her. The force of the explosion knocked her back a few steps, embedding glass in her feet.
She recovered a little and was about to swing the axe at the radio when the music was interrupted by a strange frequency and a female voice.
"Dawn?" Legolas heard the voice coming over the speakers and recognised it as belonging to Joyce Summers.
Both Dawns froze a moment. Then younger Dawn grabbed the radio and took it into the living room with her. She was taping up the cuts on her feet and trying to call her sister.
"Buffy, please, pick up the phone. I don't know what to do," she was begging. She gave up on reaching her sister after several rings and turned back to the radio.
"Do it again! I heard you!' she yelled at it.
The banging started again.
"Once for yes, twice for no," younger Dawn breathed as the realisation swept over her. She repeated it louder, as a question.
BANG
"Mom?" younger Dawn asked hopefully. "Mommy? Is that you?"
BANG
Younger Dawn smiled with a sigh of relief. Legolas frowned. He still only felt the evil presence.
"Mom? Are you ok?"
BANG BANG
Younger Dawn's face fell. She became frightened again. "Are you alone?" she asked in a small voice, dreading the answer.
BANG BANG
They watched, transfixed by the scene as the lights cut out and the house was plunged into darkness. Then the room was illuminated in an eerie red glow and five words were scrawled on the wall in dripping blood: 'Mother's milk is red today'.
The house went dark again for a split second, and when the red light returned, all the wooden furniture just through the archway to the dining room was on the ceiling, upside down. Another second of darkness, and the furniture returned to normal. The evil presence was beginning to make Legolas feel physically ill. He clutched at his aching stomach and marvelled that niether version of Dawn, though both frightened, would quail beneath the darkness.
By the tiniest glow of the street lamps outside, younger Dawn thought she could make out the image of her mother sprawled on the couch. With his Dawn clinging to his arm tightly, Legolas peered at the couch and gasped. His Elvish eyes could see much more clearly. It wasn't an image of Joyce, it was a corpse.
"Mom, I see you," came the shaky voice. "I'm coming towards you, ok?" The girl was inching forward, about to reach out and touch what she thought was her mother.
Suddenly, with a flash of light, a demon was over Joyce's body, silencing her. Younger Dawn found herself thrown back, though she tried desparately to reach her mother and free her. The demon was growling at her to leave. She refused.
"No. She's my mother, and she needs to talk to me. I'm not leaving," she said, her voice shaking with both fear and anger. Making up her mind, younger Dawn set to work to cast the demon out. Angered, the demon started causing everything in the room, including the windows, to smash. Even though he knew they could come to no harm here, Legolas pressed his back against the wall, as far out of the way as possible, drawing his Dawn into his arms as they watched the scene.
The demon growled at the spellcaster, and pushed her around, throwing her back against the wall. It slashed her cheek, drawing blood. But younger Dawn was determined. She finally managed to cast the demon out.
As it was blown out of the house, younger Dawn shrieked, "That's right! Die you bastard!" The wreck of a house was quiet once more.
Younger Dawn fell face down on the ground, exhausted by her spell. She felt an etherial, warm light pulsing in the room and slowly looked up. Legolas and older Dawn pushed themselves away from the wall, staring towards the light with wonder.
It was Joyce. Legolas smiled. The light was so pure it seemed. So beautiful.
"Mom?" Both Dawns breathed. Older Dawn had never really figured out if this had been an apparition of her mother. Even when it became apparent that the First had surfaced, and was playing mind games with them, and Willow had told her about her own conversations with dead people that night, Dawn had never given up hope that her mother had been there to warn her. And, when she thought about it, Buffy had turned her back on Dawn when she'd died. She still couldn't be sure though. It wasn't like Buffy had offed herself or anything ridiculous like that, but she'd still left Dawn behind.
Legolas' smile all of a sudden faltered. He could see through the light. It was a facade. The pain returned to him so sharply that he gasped, again clutching at his stomach and doubling over. Older Dawn looked at him, worried, and helped him straighten. She slipped her arms about his waist to support him.
Joyce's image was speaking. "Things are coming, Dawn. Listen, things are on their way. I love you, and I love Buffy. But she won't be there for you."
"What? Why are you...?" younger Dawn stammered.
"When it's bad, Buffy won't choose you. She'll be against you." With that, the light, and the image faded. Legolas was able to stand by himself once more.
Younger Dawn was screaming, "No! No! Don't go! Please don't go!"
"No," she whimpered, breaking down into helpless sobs as she was left alone once again.
Older Dawn covered her mouth with her hand, remembering how much it had hurt when her mother had left her alone. Again. Legolas kissed the top of her head, hearing her voice murmur, "She left me."
He pulled her back to their eyes were level. "Dawn... that wasn't her," he said softly, but confidently.
A tear rolled down the smooth cheek. "Well, I always wanted to know... now I do," she attempted a brave smile.
"I am sorry, melamin."
*Flash*
The tower. Older Dawn actually groaned. "Why does my death keep coming back to haunt me?" she muttered.
Beside her, Legolas was frozen on the spot. He could see her, younger Dawn was tied to the edge of a platform, but she was now not so young. She looked exactly the same as she had the day she'd arrived in Middle-Earth. Exacty the same as the woman standing next to him. He recognised the dress that now not so much younger Dawn was wearing as the one she'd been wearing at their first meeting. Legolas sucked his breath in with a sharp hiss when he realised what this memory of Dawn's was. Her death.
A strange looking demon with a tail, Doc, was standing in front of the Dawn tied to the platform. She was helpless as he raised his kinfe and began making long, shallow cuts into Dawn's skin. She started to cry, more from the knowledge of what her blood was about to cause than from the pain. She was alone. Spike had come up the tower, he'd tried to save her, but he'd been defeated. She could see him sprawled on the ground so far away, unconscious.
Legolas fumed. His Dawn had to physically restrain him from trying to take Doc out himself. "Won't do any good," she reminded him softly. They were just observers here.
They heard a noise behind them, and stepped as far to the side as they could to allow Buffy to pass, not that she would've bumped into them anyway, they were only corporial to each other here. The Slayer stormed past, not giving Doc a second glance as she shoved him from the tower, one- handed. Legolas felt a small twinge of satisfaction as he heard the demon's screams before a dull thud echoed up to them.
Buffy was at her sister's side, yanking the bonds from her wrists and pulling her from the edge. But it was too late. Older Dawn and Legolas watched as a drop of blood trickled through the grated floor of the platform. It hit a certain point in mid-air, and an unearthly blue light glowed, accompanied by a sickening rip in the air.
The sisters stood side by side, watching. They were both crying silently.
Dawn softly spoke. "I understand so clearly now."
Buffy looked at her, sniffling. "What?"
"That it had to come to this- it's supposed to end this way."
"What way? The end of the world!?" Buffy burst out.
Dawn's voice was still calm and soft, her eyes staring straight ahead. "No. Not the end of the world."
It suddenly dawned on the twenty-four year old what her younger sister was saying. "Dawny, no! I won't let you!"
Legolas felt tears sliding silently down his cheeks.
Finally Dawn turned to Buffy. "This is the way it was meant to be." Buffy was shaking her head, but Dawn continued anyway. "I don't belong here, Buffy. I never belonged, even when you made me feel like I did. But I have to go now. I'll miss you, and I will always love you. Thank you for being my sister. But we both have our own paths to take now. You'll find your way, and so will I. Goodbye, Buffy."
With a final kiss to her sister's cheek, Dawn turned and took a running dive from the tower's platform.
"No!" Legolas burst out, wishing he could stop her. The logical part of his mind knew that she was ok- she'd drop into Middle-Earth, into his world and his heart. But she shouldn't have had to go through this, any of it. She was young and beautiful and sweet and she had deserved so much more from her life than it had given her. But still, she kept fighting. He knew she always would, like it was all she had. Like her sister. It hit him then, exactly how wrong he had been at Helm's Deep, what he had taken away from her. He hung his head in shame.
"Dawny," Buffy choked out in a whisper before crumpling in a heap, her body wracked with sobs.
Older Dawn, the only one left on the platform now, was crying too. She wished she could talk to Buffy, touch her, comfort her and tell her she was ok. She noticed Legolas, still beside her. His chin was so low it was almost resting on his chest and he was crying. She hugged him tight and felt him lock his arms around her.
*Flash*
With a final smile, Gandalf disappeared from outside Dawn's window. He'd done his best. Legolas looked around, blinking through the tears streaming down his face. They were back in Minas Tirith, he was standing with his hand less than a centimetre from Dawn's forehead. It seemed as if no time had passed here at all, while he had gone through Dawn's dreams, her memories with her.
He pulled away from Dawn, who hadn't stirred in the slightest, and silently climbed out the window. He had a lot of thinking to do. Outside, he leaned back against the stone wall of the castle for support and closed his eyes. Dawn had told him and Aragorn of many of the things he'd just seen, finding out she was the Key, the loss of her mother, facing the First, her own death, but to actually see it first hand, to be there and feel it and live it... Legolas shook his head, swiping at his wet cheeks. He would never understand how she survived her first life as long as she had, and how she had the will to continue fighting here.
* * * * *
Dusk settled over Minas Tirith. Dawn wandered high on the mountain above the city. She walked along the banks of a stream which burbled gently as it meandered down the hill. She was deep in thought, wondering what she was supposed to do with herself, now that the War of the Ring had been won. She guessed she would stay in Minas Tirith with Aragorn, but she didn't know what was really supposed to happen. Was she still an agent of the PTB? Or was she free to make her own destiny now? She was so caught up in her own thoughts that she failed to hear light footsteps approaching. A hand rested on her shoulder.
With a girlish yelp, Dawn spun to face the intruder. Her gaze instantly hardened when she found herself face to face with Legolas.
Legolas watched sadly as she instinctively took a step away from him, glaring. He had to make her listen somehow.
"Dawn... please listen to me," his deep blue eyes were as pleading as his voice.
Dawn forced herself to remain stony, praying her eyes did not give away her longing for the Elf. Since he'd been in her dreams the night before, and she had been able to forget her anger with him and touch him, she'd found the ever-present yearning for Legolas had become almost unbearable. She crossed her arms over her chest and cocked an eyebrow.
Legolas almost smiled. This was progress- she hadn't walked out on him at once, or skipped straight into abusing him. He took a deep breath and readied himself.
"I am sorry I hurt you."
She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. Her eyes told him to talk fast. So intent they were on each other that neither Dawn nor Legolas noticed the approach of another Elf, rounding a bend in the streamside path. A King of Elves. Thranduil stopped a short distance away from his son and the young mortal woman, who was really little more than a girl at a glance. Glad as he was to see his son, he instantly realised this was a very private moment and he should not interrupt. But Thranduil could not tear himself away, his curiosity over the girl and what the Prince had to do with her overwhelming him.
"I know I hurt you- betrayed you. But you have to believe I thought I was protecting you," Legolas saw that familiar green fire flash through her eyes and grimaced.
"It was wrong. I was wrong. It was the worst thing I could possibly have done to you and I can see that now. Dawn, I am so sorry."
The Elf broke off, unsure of what to do now. He could see she was thinking his words over, her eyes averted so he couldn't read them. But he knew she wasn't convinced yet. He decided to pull out all the stops and tell her the truth.
"I love you."
That got her attention. Dawn's eyes snapped up, locking onto his gaze. Emotions flowed through her so fast she did not even know how to identify them.
"Fuck you, Legolas," she hissed. "Fuck you."
He grimaced. He wasn't exactly sure what the words meant, but from her tone he was pretty sure he could guess. Blinking back tears he turned to leave, knowing he had lost her forever. His vision was a watery blur, so he did not notice his father taking cautious steps backwards to conceal himself from their view. Legolas had taken about three steps from the woman he loved when he heard her sigh behind him.
"I love you, Legolas," she admitted reluctantly.
Legolas flew back to her side. He fought the urge to wrap her up in his arms and never let her go. She was still upset, and he knew she had a lot left to say to him.
Dawn stared at Legolas. For so long now she had kept all her anger, pain and love bottled up and now it seemed this was her only chance to let it out. The Fellowship was preparing to break for the last time, they would most likely never all be together again. He'd laid his cards on the table, if she didn't do the same right now, she was terrified that he wouldn't be there when she was ready. God it was painful though.
She shook her head, tears welling in her eyes to match his. "It makes me sick, what you did to me. But it makes me sicker every time you look at me..." a sob broke out from her. Dawn's shoulders began to shake but she forced herself to choke the rest of her words out.
"Cause I love you so damn badly that I hate you."
Legolas froze. He wasn't expecting this, he didn't know what to say. The urge to hold Dawn, just like he'd held her on that night in Edoras, their night, was becoming unbearable. But he could do nothing but clench his fists by his sides.
Dawn was breaking down, letting it all go at last. "I hate you so much, Legolas," she sobbed. "I need you! Why don't you ever just reach out and touch me-?"
Dawn didn't have the chance to say any more. She didn't need to. Lightning fast, Legolas reached out his long arms and pulled Dawn into him, cradling her against his body. He kissed the top of her head, and when she turned her face up to him, he kissed her forehead, then her eyes. He kissed her tears away, trailing his lips down her face until they met with hers.
Thranduil sighed, watching their kiss deepen. He was more confused than ever, but he knew one thing was clear- his son's heart was lost to a woman, a mortal who was barely more than a child. But he sensed something deep and mystical running through the girl... Dawn, Legolas had called her. Perhaps Legolas was just drawn to her energy. The King almost prayed it was so, the thought of his only child bound to embracing mortal death was unbearable. He turned and left the lovers, who never even knew he had been there.
* * * * *
A/N: 2 part chapter, because it was just WAY too long to fit in one... even for me, I have a tendency to cram as much as humanly possible in each chapter! Hope the multiple Dawns didn't confuse you, coz I have to admit they actually confused me at times! As always, asking for you to R&R ~Anoron.