Tidbit: Oak trees don't have acorns until they are at least 50 years old.


Chapter three


Buffy was welcomed with her week worth of stay at the House of Elrond. Many questioned her, and many accepted her as being a wise and powerful woman, thanks to Gandalf for spreading word of who she was and where she came from. Buffy was surprised that they even believed a ridiculous story like her own; traveling here from a different world? If she were in their shoes, she wouldn't believed a single thing. But after all, she was the slayer, and she saw a lot of stranger things back at Sunnydale. The only one who was most curious to the new arrival was Legolas, and he spent almost all of his evenings with her, for she was a great deal a friend to him as any Elf from Mirkwood.

And he enjoyed her company dearly.

To him, at least, she was like the sister he had lost many ages ago.

Buffy laughed lightly- though the laugh was full and hearty, Legolas couldn't help but notice something different, almost distant in the tone- and she, for that moment, forgot everything about Sunnydale and how she felt. But the memories or home and friends flooded back into her mind, and the laugh faded away, and the smile was taken from Buffy's face. Legolas noticed quickly and silently vowed that he would try his very best to put the smile back on this young woman's face, for she was bright, strong and everything Legolas needed right now, because his fate will soon be taken from him. The fellowship will leave tomorrow evening from Rivendell forth to Mordor.

"What's so hot about this Mordor place anyway?" Buffy asked Legolas, as they walked together down a garden that was once kept for the wife of Elrond.

Legolas mentally laughed at the description of Mordor, though the situation was too grim to jest about.

"It must be taken into smooth consideration," He replied, gently grabbing her elbow to direct her away from a different path. It led to the dinning hall, but he was not finished being alone with her. "And the path is still being chosen…"

"I still don't understand." Buffy sighed.

Legolas smiled at this. "Many people do not."

"Yeah, but you do. So explain away, capitán."

"Ca- capitán?"

Buffy shook her head and grinned. "Never mind. Can you tell me about Mordor then?-"

"Buffy Summers."

Buffy turned her head around sharply, annoyed at her Legolas' discussion being interrupted.

She suddenly smiled at Lord Elrond. She got use to him being so kind to her that she couldn't stay angry forever, especially since he was so generous and so godly. At first, Buffy was kind of crept out at the way Elrond would perk his eyebrows up and down at her, yet she managed to deal it out with courteous smiles and quick runaways. But Buffy kind of came up with the conclusion that she was probably the one around here that seemed strange to everyone else. But, she was glad there were at least a few humans roaming around the house, occasionally speaking with her. Anyhow, she spent most of her time with Legolas. Elves were so fascinating.

"Hello!" Buffy greeted, walking forwards and bowing. She was use to that, too. "What's up?"

Elrond gave her a strange look, and smiled. "Perhaps one day Legolas can speak to you about Mordor, since I see you are very interested into learning the history of Middle- earth."

"Not really," She said. "Just about Mordor. I mean, these guys are traveling there, and I'm guessing it's going to be a long time until they get back, so I'm just very curious."

"I'd imagine." Elrond whispered, his eyes narrowing though his brows were risen high above his gaze. "Though some things must be left out for someone else to explain. Someone like myself. So, if I haven't interrupted anything, would you care to walk with me while I ask you something? But-" He took Buffy's hand and led her away. "you mustn't speak a word of what I am going to tell you."

Buffy looked skeptical for a moment, but nodded eagerly. "Scouts honor."

Elrond gave her another look, but ignored it and wished Legolas his farewells. As Elrond led Buffy off away down the path, Legolas could not help but sigh. Whatever Elrond wanted to speak to Buffy about couldn't be good. She was way too important in this time of period and she, perhaps being compared to the One thing that would ever mean so much to the world, was more valuable than the Ring. Even thinking those words made Legolas shudder and re think it over. But his subconscious was right. Buffy is the most important thing right now. She's delicate and needed to be handled carefully. She was the demon slayer, after all.

Taking one last whiff of air, Legolas turned and took the path to the dinning Halls. Maybe Aragorn will be there.

Buffy knew this was going to come up. Elrond, as well as everyone else, was suspicious with the way Legolas and herself would spend their time alone. It wasn't like anything was happening, it was more or less a companion thing. He was there for her since the very confusing beginning, and she owed him a lot. After all, it was he who took her to Rivendell after a nasty fall from his horse and onto those rocks. She shuddered.

She really didn't want to relive that, ever.

Turning back to Elrond, she smiled and said softly, "I wish everyone didn't have to leave. I'm really going to miss them. All of them. All this talk about some fancy ring… so what? I say take and pawn it off for some cool pair of…"

Buffy laughed nervously and trailed her voice off.

"It is not that simple." Elrond said. "This ring- it is powerful. Very much powerful than all the evil you speak of in your world. I fear everyone's lives on this one Ring. If it is not destroyed, I do not want to think of what will become of everyone. Including my daughter's." At this, he gave a big sigh and turned away.

"Yikes." Buffy whispered, looking down at her hands. "Maybe there's something I can do…"

Elrond looked over at the girl beside him as they walked further down the garden. His face was troubled as he gazed at her, almost considering this. Maybe what she said was true. Perhaps there is something she can do, after all that she does on her world, maybe she will become handy on this one. But this was putting her in grave danger. It was a rough enough situation for him to put the nine companions in this much adventure, though there was nothing he could do to change their minds. And what had just now slipped from his mouth had very well placed Buffy in the same position.

"Perhaps there is. Perhaps you can accompany the nine travelers on their way to destroy the Ring."

She was stuck, just like the others. Her face lit up in excitement and Elrond's heart sank low to the ground.

"Perfect!" Buffy exclaimed, clenching her fists and grinning from eat to ear. "I've been dying for adventure ever since- well, ever since I came here. But- won't I have to take that test the others took?"

"What test?" Elrond asked.

"Those little Hobbit guys said something about a test they had to take to get into the fellowship." She waved her arms in the air, as though there was someone sword fighting in front of her. "They had to have a sword match and they all fought down these really rough Elves. Won't I have to take it?"

Elrond suddenly laughed and Buffy frowned.

He quickly explained that there was no test and the Hobbits were only jesting. Then Buffy asked him what he meant by "jesting" and Elrond gave her the same strange look he always gave her. He told her softly not to speak, for there was much he had to tell her, and so he did. He told her about Middle- earth, about the wielding of the ring, and the war that has erupted amongst them all once again. And as Buffy listened- fascinated, of course-, she couldn't help but feel one way towards the two races of Men and Elves.

They must have a really strong bond.

---

Legolas watched her walk up from the steps of the garden. The sun was setting and it now was a perfect lighting to see her in, for her hair was glowing a bright blonde and her face was tan and smooth. She was smiling when she saw him, and for a moment Legolas could only hold his breath for the true beauty that this girl had. No longer was she a young image- she was a woman, strong and beautiful. Does she even know it?

She made a dramatic wave of her head and flipped up her skirt. She forbid herself- and about a dozen Elven maidens- to wear anything too fancy, so she was stuck with wearing light work dresses, but all the same, Legolas thought her wonderful to gaze at. She waved a hand in his face and he came back from his reverie to see what he was gazing at.

"Did you hear one thing I said?" Buffy asked excitedly. He could tell she was excited.

"I am sorry." Legolas flushed, watching as she sat down by a stone pillar. "I wasn't listening."

Buffy grinned and bit down on her lip. "Well, I have very interesting news."

Legolas smiled and moved to sit next to her, but the least likely person came out from the Halls and sat besides her on the bench. Legolas clenched his fists closed as he watched Buffy and Erustale engage in a conversation. He sighed.

"I heard from Lord Elrond that you are accompanying the nine travelers to Mordor?" He asked suddenly.

Legolas' he did a double take from Erustale to Buffy. "What?"

"What?" Buffy repeated. "Elrond and me had a long discussion and it's final. I'm gonna come with you guys to Mordor!"

Erustale seemed to have the same tension Legolas was sending off, but Legolas was also angry.

"What were you thinking of?" He shouted. "Do you know how dangerous this is going to be?"

"Not to mention a lot of fighting, traveling." Erustale added.

Buffy gave them both a stern look that completely read, I- can- do- anything- you- can- do, so Erustale grunted and looked away, though Legolas was not through speaking. He clenched his fists again and narrowed his eyes.

"How could you?"

"How could I what Legolas?" Buffy said angrily. "It's nothing I probably haven't already witnessed. Like it's going to be a big deal anyway? Elrond discussed what will happen and I'm perfectly fine with it!"

So this is all Elrond's fault! Legolas concluded, and he had to unclench his hands from making a large gash in the center of his palm. He took a few deep breaths and shook his head. What was Buffy thinking in the first place? Why would she consider- no, how could she choose to come with himself and the others to Mordor? She was putting her life at risk!

"And anyway," She continued, cautiously. "Gandalf told me I might find a way home the farther I travel with you. After all, isn't Gandalf this super genius wizard that no one could figure out? So maybe he's right… maybe I will find my way back to Sunnydale if I go with you guys."

Legolas let this all sink in in silence. This was Gandalf's fault too!

"But why would you go back?" Erustale asked roughly. "Won't you want to stay here with us?"

Buffy raised her brows. "I have a life back at Sunnydale, Eru. I can't simply walk away from it. I mean- I fell away from it, yeah, but I need to go back. Dawn needs me."

"Your sister?" Legolas suddenly asked, his face straightening out.

"Yes." Buffy said slowly.

Legolas narrowed his eyes. "You dream of her."

"Yeah, Dawn-" She stopped herself and crossed her arms. "How do you know I dream about my sister?"

Legolas looked away quickly, the tip of his ears reddening. "It was a lucky guess."

There was a moment of silence, and Buffy knew Legolas was contemplating everything she just said in his mind. She wondered what went on in there, if anything exciting every enlightens this Elf's mood. She sighed, figuring it would be better if she didn't know what went on in his head. Turning away, she gave Erustale a small smile as a small grumble was heard over the silence.

"Hungry?" She asked.