Tidbit: You were born with 300 bones. When you get to be an
adult, you have 206.
Chapter nine
She found herself sitting under a tree; it was one she hadn't seen before, nor noticed when she arrived. It was a tall tree, with yellow trimmings around the golden, green leaves and a strange heat was radiating from the stems. Buffy looked at it in amazement. Why hadn't she noticed this before? It was obviously the most intriguing thing in this garden. Garden… she looked around wildly. Her feet curled against the soft, knee high grass and her hands ran themselves along the beautiful flowers.
"Talk about delusions." She said.
Her voice rung against the open sky and she covered her ears quickly. Then, as soon as her words faded away, a gush of wind swept her off her feet and she landed roughly against a rough, jagged rock path. Surprised, she threw herself in a sitting position and covered her mouth. Something sour filled her mouth… almost like the like was about to vomit. But nothing came out, and the taste grew stronger. She touched her brow lightly, trying to surpass the taste by spitting.
"Buffy!" She turned to regard her name.
Buffy's eyes widened. "D-Dawn?" What the- wait- No.
Her sister smiled softly and reached out her hand. "Let it stay, Buffy."
Buffy furrowed her brows, her mouth watering up and the sour taste remaining. "Let what stay, Dawny?"
"The reason why you…" Dawn never finished what she was saying before Buffy was swept on her feet.
"What Dawn, what?" Buffy asked in a hurry, trying to stop moving, but it was impossible.
Buffy swept passed Dawn, and the younger sister began to cry. "Don't leave me Buffy. Don't let the feeling stay! It'll ruin you!"
Buffy gasped. "Dawn!"
---
Buffy's eyes opened immediately. Her body was no longer cold from the snow, and no longer was she in snow. A fire was lit close by her and a blanket was tightly wrapped around her body. She looked up at the darkness and shook her head. She couldn't remember coming here. What was happening to her? As though to her answer, a low rustle to her left made her jump back in surprise, but she later regretted it since she was bare nude. She crawled back in the blanket and stared, open mouthed, at Legolas.
"What the hell!" She cried. "Why am I naked, under a lit fire with no recollection of ending up here?"
"You are awake!" He grinned, dropping more wood into the fire before joining her at his knees. "You were sleeping for awhile now, we thought- well… you're here now, and that's what matters."
Buffy groaned. "Why does my head hurt?" She touched the side of her head and flinched. "Ow…"
"You were injured on the mountain." He explained. "You had fallen into a deep sleep. You are well now, though."
"Oh, where are my clothes-" Buffy asked.
"Buffy!" Buffy turned around and wrapped the blanket closer to her body. Merry, Pippin, Sam and Frodo hurried over to her and a rush of relief filled their eyes. "You're awake!"
"Yeah Pippin, I am." Buffy flushed under their gazes. She wasn't really calm with having a bunch of Hobbits huddled around her when she was completely naked. "Umm, what's… new?"
"Besides you gettin' all sick and all?" Pippin said.
Buffy looked confused. "I was sick?"
Legolas started but Pippin continued, "Yep. You were vomiting and running a fever. We all were worried about you, we thought you were going to…" The three other Hobbits and Legolas gave him a hard look. "… sleep… longer." He finished lamely. There was a moment when they all stood silently, watching her.
Buffy got annoyed. "Well, can I have my clothes?"
"Oh! Indeed!" Sam shouted and quickly ran off, and outside the cave.
Buffy looked around, amazed. She hadn't noticed this cave before. That's why it was so dark? Looking up, she turned to Legolas for an explanation. He simply smiled and held her hand in his. I guess words weren't meant to be spoken, Buffy thought helplessly, just as Sam came hurrying back with different types of clothes in his arms.
He stopped before crashing into Merry. "Ma'am!" He breathed. "Your clothes are destroyed. Aragorn had said something about the snow and blood and attracting things… here you are." He threw the pile of clothes down to her.
She looked at it for a moment, then gaped at the Hobbit. "These are what you guys wear!"
Frodo frowned. "Is there something wrong with that?"
"No, I'm just saying!" She looked down at the short, brown trousers and the white, buttoned down shirt. "This isn't what I usually wear… I mean, come on. Won't this be a bit tight? And where are my… er- under garments?"
"Ruined as well." Sam said, sadly.
"Not at all." Legolas said, the hint of a smile on his face. "You will fit perfectly into their clothing, you are measured to make absolute sure."
Buffy's eyebrow perked. "And who exactly measured me."
Pippin and Merry grinned, and even Frodo cracked a smile. "Legolas did, of course!" Sam said, the only one oblivious to the situation.
"What?" Buffy cried. She wasn't sure she heard him correctly, but it still made her fidgety knowing Legolas saw her.
"Your clothes were ruined!" Legolas protested, the argument amusing the Hobbits.
"You saw me naked?" Buffy shrieked. "Uh! Get out, will you, while I change?"
"Buff-" Legolas began, but Buffy held up a hand.
"That goes for you too, buddy." She glared. "Even if you saw me naked already."
The Hobbits quickly scurried out and Legolas sulked away. Buffy let out a sigh of relief, but then turned her attention to the Hobbit clothes. They did seem a little small for her, and she wondered if roaming around naked would cause any distractions for the fellowship? Even if they were a bunch of male's, they wouldn't really notice… Who was she kidding? Hurriedly, she stood and slipped on the trousers and buttoned up the shirt. Amazed, she looked down at the comfortably fitted outfit. And hey, it didn't look too shabby.
The sleeves were to her elbows, but she could roll them up, and other than that it was fine.
The trousers were very comfortable, even better than those awful pants she wore on the road. The Hobbits really do need to meet up with Ralph Lauren and make some kind of deal. Curious, Buffy ran her hand to where her injury was and pulled it back at the intense pain welling up there. What had happened? Did she fall or something? But that rock… it was so huge, and it was coming at her so quickly. She shuddered and wrapped her arms around her chest. I hope this shirt isn't see through… She thought, hopefully.
Before she had time to untangle her hair, someone kicked a rock into the cave and she whirled around.
"You could have knocked!" Buffy said, but her voice was cut off by the deep, heavy breath of a big, furry beast at the entrance of the cave. "Whoa- that's one big Kitty…"
It seemed annoyed at Buffy's statement and its large paws thudded against the cave floor, and the sound coming out from its mouth was full of sibilance. On instinct, Buffy jumped out from its way and darted for the exit. Curious, she turned her head and groaned as it followed close by, the soft platter of Buffy's bare feet and its large claws echoing off the cave's wall. Finally, she reached the outside and stepped onto the cold, wet ground somewhere without trees. So we aren't near a forest…
Around her, the fellowship were running around or either fighting off more of those giant wolves. She looked around frantically for her blade or for her boots. Gandalf was right! She should be more careful where she was putting her belongings! Damn him, and damn her feet. They were lagging her and the wolf was tailing her.
Taking a risk, Buffy stopped and turned around. The wolf, not phased by Buffy's new approach, continued to gallop in a rush towards her. As it came closer, Buffy noticed that it bore a rider. A very nasty rider with bad hygiene, Buffy noticed, and it glared down at her through a crooked smile. With a roll of her eyes, she reached up and grabbed onto the rider, flinging him down from the wolf. It howled with pain from Buffy's hand grip around his neck, and the blow of crashing into a pointy rock.
Buffy went to comment, but the thing, as ugly as it was, spat up in her face and snarled with either laughter or accomplishment. Grossed out, Buffy dug her hand deeper into his neck and with a swap at her face, she twisted the neck in a nasty, gruesome crunch, and kicked the body away. Looking up in search for her blade again, the ride came galloping back towards Buffy, a new rider on its back. Buffy sighed.
"Get away from me until I find my damn sword!" She shouted, but neither did what she commanded.
The rider, bigger and wider than the last, reached a hand out and grabbed onto Buffy's new shirt.
Surprised, Buffy was momentarily dumbfounded, but when realization hit her, she struggled against its grip. But it heaved her further on the large, furry wolf and when Buffy felt the hands that brought her up grope her, she instinctively thrust her foot into its jaw. It gave a hideous cry and snatched a handful of Buffy's dirty, knotted hair.
"That's- it!" Buffy groaned, grabbing onto the thing's wrist. "You- stupid- son- of- a- bitch!"
"Buffy! Quick! Duck!" Buffy didn't know whose voice that was, but she followed commands and ducked her head as far down as she could. She felt an incredible pain then, and after doing so, the body holding onto her fell backwards and pulled her down with him. "Buffy!"
"Oh, great." Buffy muttered, just when she slipped from the wolf and onto the ground. Luckily, it was soft grass and it wasn't as hard as that rock hitting her in the face. Lucky for her, she braced herself, all those days of decency coming back at her, she flipped further and further down the grassy plain, her head ever hitting the ground and her hands trying to block as much as the blows as possible. When she stopped, she felt herself get picked up off the ground immediately. She cracked her eye open. "Let me down!"
"You are injured!" Legolas shouted, his eyes large and worried. "You could have been killed!"
"What are you talking about?" She tried. "I'm fine! I just tumbled down a hill, it's alright!"
"Legolas! Buffy! Are you two alright?" Aragorn came hurrying over to them, once Legolas made his way to the others.
"She is hurt." Legolas stated flatly.
"Am not." Buffy murmured, breaking free from Legolas and standing perfectly on her feet. She opened out her arms and tapped her foot against the hard ground. "See-" She then felt something squishy underneath it and she looked down at a dead body of one of the riders. "Ew! My damn foot! Damn it, what were those things?"
"W-wargs." Gandalf said, coming up breathlessly. He held out his hand to Buffy suddenly, and she groaned. "Here."
"Thanks…" Buffy seemed uneasy as she reached out for her blade. Gandalf gave her a knowing look.
"This blade seems to always show up at the wrong time and the wrong place."
Buffy nodded slowly. "I guess…"
"Why was that rider riding off with Buffy, Gandalf?" Legolas asked suddenly.
"Because, they know exactly where we are now." He said simply. "Somehow every time danger is near, Buffy's little blade seems always in the center of the battle."
"Are you blaming this on me?" Buffy asked angrily. "Because I had no idea this was happening! I was in the cave!"
"I am simply saying that perhaps Saruman knows who you are, that is all." Gandalf replied.
Buffy shook her head, as did Aragorn and Legolas. "How can he possibly know whom she is?" Aragorn asked.
"I don't know," Gandalf said and cast his gaze at Buffy. For some strange reason, she didn't like the way that look meant, if indeed it meant anything. "but that rider had tried to take Buffy away… a direct order from Saruman."
Chapter nine
She found herself sitting under a tree; it was one she hadn't seen before, nor noticed when she arrived. It was a tall tree, with yellow trimmings around the golden, green leaves and a strange heat was radiating from the stems. Buffy looked at it in amazement. Why hadn't she noticed this before? It was obviously the most intriguing thing in this garden. Garden… she looked around wildly. Her feet curled against the soft, knee high grass and her hands ran themselves along the beautiful flowers.
"Talk about delusions." She said.
Her voice rung against the open sky and she covered her ears quickly. Then, as soon as her words faded away, a gush of wind swept her off her feet and she landed roughly against a rough, jagged rock path. Surprised, she threw herself in a sitting position and covered her mouth. Something sour filled her mouth… almost like the like was about to vomit. But nothing came out, and the taste grew stronger. She touched her brow lightly, trying to surpass the taste by spitting.
"Buffy!" She turned to regard her name.
Buffy's eyes widened. "D-Dawn?" What the- wait- No.
Her sister smiled softly and reached out her hand. "Let it stay, Buffy."
Buffy furrowed her brows, her mouth watering up and the sour taste remaining. "Let what stay, Dawny?"
"The reason why you…" Dawn never finished what she was saying before Buffy was swept on her feet.
"What Dawn, what?" Buffy asked in a hurry, trying to stop moving, but it was impossible.
Buffy swept passed Dawn, and the younger sister began to cry. "Don't leave me Buffy. Don't let the feeling stay! It'll ruin you!"
Buffy gasped. "Dawn!"
---
Buffy's eyes opened immediately. Her body was no longer cold from the snow, and no longer was she in snow. A fire was lit close by her and a blanket was tightly wrapped around her body. She looked up at the darkness and shook her head. She couldn't remember coming here. What was happening to her? As though to her answer, a low rustle to her left made her jump back in surprise, but she later regretted it since she was bare nude. She crawled back in the blanket and stared, open mouthed, at Legolas.
"What the hell!" She cried. "Why am I naked, under a lit fire with no recollection of ending up here?"
"You are awake!" He grinned, dropping more wood into the fire before joining her at his knees. "You were sleeping for awhile now, we thought- well… you're here now, and that's what matters."
Buffy groaned. "Why does my head hurt?" She touched the side of her head and flinched. "Ow…"
"You were injured on the mountain." He explained. "You had fallen into a deep sleep. You are well now, though."
"Oh, where are my clothes-" Buffy asked.
"Buffy!" Buffy turned around and wrapped the blanket closer to her body. Merry, Pippin, Sam and Frodo hurried over to her and a rush of relief filled their eyes. "You're awake!"
"Yeah Pippin, I am." Buffy flushed under their gazes. She wasn't really calm with having a bunch of Hobbits huddled around her when she was completely naked. "Umm, what's… new?"
"Besides you gettin' all sick and all?" Pippin said.
Buffy looked confused. "I was sick?"
Legolas started but Pippin continued, "Yep. You were vomiting and running a fever. We all were worried about you, we thought you were going to…" The three other Hobbits and Legolas gave him a hard look. "… sleep… longer." He finished lamely. There was a moment when they all stood silently, watching her.
Buffy got annoyed. "Well, can I have my clothes?"
"Oh! Indeed!" Sam shouted and quickly ran off, and outside the cave.
Buffy looked around, amazed. She hadn't noticed this cave before. That's why it was so dark? Looking up, she turned to Legolas for an explanation. He simply smiled and held her hand in his. I guess words weren't meant to be spoken, Buffy thought helplessly, just as Sam came hurrying back with different types of clothes in his arms.
He stopped before crashing into Merry. "Ma'am!" He breathed. "Your clothes are destroyed. Aragorn had said something about the snow and blood and attracting things… here you are." He threw the pile of clothes down to her.
She looked at it for a moment, then gaped at the Hobbit. "These are what you guys wear!"
Frodo frowned. "Is there something wrong with that?"
"No, I'm just saying!" She looked down at the short, brown trousers and the white, buttoned down shirt. "This isn't what I usually wear… I mean, come on. Won't this be a bit tight? And where are my… er- under garments?"
"Ruined as well." Sam said, sadly.
"Not at all." Legolas said, the hint of a smile on his face. "You will fit perfectly into their clothing, you are measured to make absolute sure."
Buffy's eyebrow perked. "And who exactly measured me."
Pippin and Merry grinned, and even Frodo cracked a smile. "Legolas did, of course!" Sam said, the only one oblivious to the situation.
"What?" Buffy cried. She wasn't sure she heard him correctly, but it still made her fidgety knowing Legolas saw her.
"Your clothes were ruined!" Legolas protested, the argument amusing the Hobbits.
"You saw me naked?" Buffy shrieked. "Uh! Get out, will you, while I change?"
"Buff-" Legolas began, but Buffy held up a hand.
"That goes for you too, buddy." She glared. "Even if you saw me naked already."
The Hobbits quickly scurried out and Legolas sulked away. Buffy let out a sigh of relief, but then turned her attention to the Hobbit clothes. They did seem a little small for her, and she wondered if roaming around naked would cause any distractions for the fellowship? Even if they were a bunch of male's, they wouldn't really notice… Who was she kidding? Hurriedly, she stood and slipped on the trousers and buttoned up the shirt. Amazed, she looked down at the comfortably fitted outfit. And hey, it didn't look too shabby.
The sleeves were to her elbows, but she could roll them up, and other than that it was fine.
The trousers were very comfortable, even better than those awful pants she wore on the road. The Hobbits really do need to meet up with Ralph Lauren and make some kind of deal. Curious, Buffy ran her hand to where her injury was and pulled it back at the intense pain welling up there. What had happened? Did she fall or something? But that rock… it was so huge, and it was coming at her so quickly. She shuddered and wrapped her arms around her chest. I hope this shirt isn't see through… She thought, hopefully.
Before she had time to untangle her hair, someone kicked a rock into the cave and she whirled around.
"You could have knocked!" Buffy said, but her voice was cut off by the deep, heavy breath of a big, furry beast at the entrance of the cave. "Whoa- that's one big Kitty…"
It seemed annoyed at Buffy's statement and its large paws thudded against the cave floor, and the sound coming out from its mouth was full of sibilance. On instinct, Buffy jumped out from its way and darted for the exit. Curious, she turned her head and groaned as it followed close by, the soft platter of Buffy's bare feet and its large claws echoing off the cave's wall. Finally, she reached the outside and stepped onto the cold, wet ground somewhere without trees. So we aren't near a forest…
Around her, the fellowship were running around or either fighting off more of those giant wolves. She looked around frantically for her blade or for her boots. Gandalf was right! She should be more careful where she was putting her belongings! Damn him, and damn her feet. They were lagging her and the wolf was tailing her.
Taking a risk, Buffy stopped and turned around. The wolf, not phased by Buffy's new approach, continued to gallop in a rush towards her. As it came closer, Buffy noticed that it bore a rider. A very nasty rider with bad hygiene, Buffy noticed, and it glared down at her through a crooked smile. With a roll of her eyes, she reached up and grabbed onto the rider, flinging him down from the wolf. It howled with pain from Buffy's hand grip around his neck, and the blow of crashing into a pointy rock.
Buffy went to comment, but the thing, as ugly as it was, spat up in her face and snarled with either laughter or accomplishment. Grossed out, Buffy dug her hand deeper into his neck and with a swap at her face, she twisted the neck in a nasty, gruesome crunch, and kicked the body away. Looking up in search for her blade again, the ride came galloping back towards Buffy, a new rider on its back. Buffy sighed.
"Get away from me until I find my damn sword!" She shouted, but neither did what she commanded.
The rider, bigger and wider than the last, reached a hand out and grabbed onto Buffy's new shirt.
Surprised, Buffy was momentarily dumbfounded, but when realization hit her, she struggled against its grip. But it heaved her further on the large, furry wolf and when Buffy felt the hands that brought her up grope her, she instinctively thrust her foot into its jaw. It gave a hideous cry and snatched a handful of Buffy's dirty, knotted hair.
"That's- it!" Buffy groaned, grabbing onto the thing's wrist. "You- stupid- son- of- a- bitch!"
"Buffy! Quick! Duck!" Buffy didn't know whose voice that was, but she followed commands and ducked her head as far down as she could. She felt an incredible pain then, and after doing so, the body holding onto her fell backwards and pulled her down with him. "Buffy!"
"Oh, great." Buffy muttered, just when she slipped from the wolf and onto the ground. Luckily, it was soft grass and it wasn't as hard as that rock hitting her in the face. Lucky for her, she braced herself, all those days of decency coming back at her, she flipped further and further down the grassy plain, her head ever hitting the ground and her hands trying to block as much as the blows as possible. When she stopped, she felt herself get picked up off the ground immediately. She cracked her eye open. "Let me down!"
"You are injured!" Legolas shouted, his eyes large and worried. "You could have been killed!"
"What are you talking about?" She tried. "I'm fine! I just tumbled down a hill, it's alright!"
"Legolas! Buffy! Are you two alright?" Aragorn came hurrying over to them, once Legolas made his way to the others.
"She is hurt." Legolas stated flatly.
"Am not." Buffy murmured, breaking free from Legolas and standing perfectly on her feet. She opened out her arms and tapped her foot against the hard ground. "See-" She then felt something squishy underneath it and she looked down at a dead body of one of the riders. "Ew! My damn foot! Damn it, what were those things?"
"W-wargs." Gandalf said, coming up breathlessly. He held out his hand to Buffy suddenly, and she groaned. "Here."
"Thanks…" Buffy seemed uneasy as she reached out for her blade. Gandalf gave her a knowing look.
"This blade seems to always show up at the wrong time and the wrong place."
Buffy nodded slowly. "I guess…"
"Why was that rider riding off with Buffy, Gandalf?" Legolas asked suddenly.
"Because, they know exactly where we are now." He said simply. "Somehow every time danger is near, Buffy's little blade seems always in the center of the battle."
"Are you blaming this on me?" Buffy asked angrily. "Because I had no idea this was happening! I was in the cave!"
"I am simply saying that perhaps Saruman knows who you are, that is all." Gandalf replied.
Buffy shook her head, as did Aragorn and Legolas. "How can he possibly know whom she is?" Aragorn asked.
"I don't know," Gandalf said and cast his gaze at Buffy. For some strange reason, she didn't like the way that look meant, if indeed it meant anything. "but that rider had tried to take Buffy away… a direct order from Saruman."