Ok well… in means of becoming a new set of
digitized numbers in
chapters (Chapter twenty, hurrah!), I have added something extra in
this chapter that I think you
will like. Keep reviewing, and thank you, THANK you to those of
you that took the time to tell me what you think so far along. I
greatly appreciate it.
Yikes! A delay in updating, and big apologies to that. You want my excuse don't you? Well to make a long story short, my pets for over three years were taken away from me, my grandmother has fallen ill, homework is hectic, and I've had a large case of semi- reader's block. Here's your chapter all ready, and I'm definite you'll like it. Especially what will involve in such a short period of time. ^^
HAPPY GOBBLE GOBBLE DAY!
Treat your turkeys as they would treat you. :D
CHAPTER TWENTY: Pulled under.
By the time Buffy returned to camp, everyone was fixing their pallets and laying out pillows.
"Buffy?" Aragorn asked softly.
"Talking to someone? Yeah right, I bet he's with some Elf lady with bigger boobs and better tracking skills!" Angry, Buffy kicked at the dirt.
"What has happened?" Aragorn whispered. "What did Legolas do? And why is your dress so wrinkled — "
"We were in the middle of something," Buffy muttered. "and he left. Just like that, and he had the dignity to tell me to wait for him? Sorry, but I am not waiting for anybody anymore. I wait and I wait, and what happens? I get torn in half, and one part of me goes that way, and the other goes this way. It gets really annoying, almost like when someone keeps poking you in the side and after awhile it gets to you…. You know?"
The ranger sighed. "In a way, I do. What were you two in the middle of, anyway?"
Buffy narrowed her eyes. "I don't go snooping in yours and Arwen's business, do I?"
"I am simply asking…" he trailed off when Buffy walked away.
"Faith!" Buffy shouted. "Faith where are you?"
No answer came as Buffy searched her bed pallet, the place where she likes to watch Boromir, and the tall white tree that she was usually perched under when taking a nap. Buffy sighed.
"Where the hell can she be?" she wondered.
Giggling caught her attention. Buffy's head snapped to the side.
"Faith?" she whispered.
More giggling, this time followed closely by a distinctive male growl.
"Oh, Faith. You are my savior… My— my one and only!"
"What's my name, big guy?" Faith whispered in chiseled pleasure. "Say my name."
"FAITH!" was the shrill reply. "Faith is my mistress, Faith is my courtesan from the very haven's above. Oh beautiful Faith, how you make my knees weak, my head spin, my erect burning in my groins—"
Buffy didn't allow herself to listen to the perceptible foreplay carrying on between none of than Faith and Boromir. Feeling revolted from hearing way too much of the heavy dialogue, Buffy decided to change her paths and left the tree bivouac to clear her mind out from Legolas and especially from the unwanted image of Boromir naked.
Sighing, Buffy jogged on top a hill and reached for a withy branch, pulling herself on top of the knoll and down another golden path. Golden trees lined up down as far as the eye can see, sun light barely filtering through the careening leaves and branches. The wind, Buffy noticed, had become fearfully heavy and strong as they welcomed their stay in Lothlórien.
Not noticing that the path had divided into two separate ways, Buffy walked straight into a firm body and fell back into a flock of wracked up foliage.
"My lady," murmured a voice. "are you all right? I apologize, I was not watching where I was going."
Buffy blew leaves out of her mouth and looked up. "No problemo, I was the one that wasn't watching where I was going. I tend to do that since this place is like… so mystical and everything."
Haldir smiled and risen a brow. "Troubled thoughts, hmm?"
Buffy ran a hand through her hair and grinned. "Yeah, sort of."
"Here, let me help you up." Haldir said, reaching down a hand and gently lifting Buffy out of the pile of leaves. "You are as light as a feather!" he added in astonishment.
Buffy shrugged. "I get that a lot. Hey- aren't you that guy who led us through Lórien?"
"I get that a lot," Haldir teased. "but aye, I am. Haldir some call me, but usually it is just Haldir. Care to tell me where you were heading on such a lovely evening, when you can be sharing it with the Prince of Mirkwood?"
"I would but— how do you know about us?" Buffy asked.
"Because you just told me." Haldir replied, throwing his head back and laughing. "Also because it is so bluntly obvious that even a Dwarf could tell!"
Buffy made a face. "What's the deal with Dwarves anyway? Gimli seems like a nice guy, why don't Elves lay off with the whole discrimination thing? It's very annoying,"
Haldir frowned. "Something's that you have grown up upon remain the same even when those years have long passed, and choices are no longer made for you. I cannot help the way Elves are, my lady, it is simply a… a…"
"Thing?" Buffy finished with a nod. "I know exactly what you're talking about. It's like, one moment you have two people deciding things for you and the next you're on your own. And some of those things I can't even remember! One moment you are the only child, the next minute you have a younger sister that you have no recollection of having. And you have no idea what I'm talking about, do you?"
Haldir laughed again. "Actually, I enjoy listening to you talk."
Buffy smiled and stood in front of the Elf for what felt like ages. Awkwardly she begun smoothing down the front of her dress and picked at leaves from the inside of her cleavage, not bothering to notice that Haldir was making soft noises.
Looking up slowly, Buffy was confronted by the Elf playing a flute, a deep look passing over his face as his long fingers entwined with the small instrument. Buffy smiled and watched in silent admiration.
When Haldir had finished, he was caught by Buffy's strong scrutiny and smiled.
"Care to try?" he asked gently.
"Huh? Me?" Buffy raised her eyebrows. "No, I can barely play the harmonica so I don't expect to be any good with the flute. But that was lovely Haldir, you're good at it."
"I try my best," he said, though his eyes were agleam with pride. "You seem an interesting lady, Buffy Summers. Care to take the rest of the path with me? I am in dire need of a fair Lady's company."
Buffy was ready to oblige but something had caught her ear, and she turned her head around wildly. Nothing but the leafy path was in front of her face as she observed her surroundings, the trees, the earth's floor and back to Haldir's calm yet pleading face. Feeling herself smile again, Buffy nodded her head and took a step closer to the Elf.
"Sure, I feel like being in someone's company." she said, and they both made their way down the path.
Little did they know that they were being watched, and Legolas tore a branch in half in anger. How dare Haldir of Lórien take Buffy away from him! He had been following her when he had felt her discomfort below a hill, and there he had wanted to jump out and comfort her. Yet something stopped him, perhaps the ringing voice of Galadriel in his head. And it was there that Haldir had snatched her away from him so greedily, and there was where Legolas remained as he recalled the confrontation with the Lady of the Wood.
Legolas was sure that what the Lady was to tell him would be about Buffy, but he was not expecting her to be in front of a stone pedestal with such a sedate looking upon her face. Her voice seemed so rigid and angry in his head. Gazing at the Elf as he approached her, his heart gave a lurch when seeing her eyes. They were so cold… so lost.
"My Lady?" Legolas asked uneasily.
Galadriel made no sign of hearing him, and took a step towards a pitcher of water just beside the pedestal.
"You have given me quite a fright in my woods just a few moments ago, Legolas Greenleaf." she murmured, though her voice was mildly pleasant. "But the slayer is an endured soul, she has spirit. But you, my dear Elf… you have thrown the stone too far master Elf. And you have drowned in her eyes."
Legolas shuddered from the knowledge Galadriel held with his reasons with Buffy. Was she truly staring into his mind, reading his thoughts and corrupting his feelings? He had not bothered to question his own mind as his eyes caught the Lady pouring water into the pedestal. He took a frightened step forwards.
Galadriel focused on the Woodland Elf again, her scrutiny strong.
"What are your feelings for her, Thrandullion?" she asked gently.
"I love her, or so I think." He thought for a moment. "Yes… I love her."
"That is an ill burden." Galadriel stated curiously, tilting her head to the side. "Yet… I wonder, if she feels the same feelings as you do for her?"
"Of course she does," Legolas whispered, his eyes narrowing. "why wouldn't she?"
Galadriel heaved her shoulders softly. "Many men has passed in her time, Elf, maybe as many as you. And one treaded the same as you, a love filled with passion and remorse. For he too was immortal."
"I am different!" Legolas cried. "I care for her, for more than just passion. There is no remorse in our relationship!"
"No?" Galadriel asked dangerously. "Can you be certain, for the mirror tells me otherwise!"
Legolas' eyes were caught unaware of the agleam pedestal and its containing. Inside was the poured water, shining underneath the darkening sky and tinkering in a silvery glow. The Elf was contorted with several emotions as Galadriel beckoned him forwards. What shall he see? What will he feel?
Looking up at the Lady for an explanation, she remained impassive. Legolas licked the tip of his lip as he clutched the edge of the pedestal with care, his eyes boring into the mirrored water.
And there he saw a woman and a young girl. Dawn, perhaps? They were holding hands and staring off into the night sky, a purple flash blinding it as a figure came billowing down, hitting its target and destroying the property. His throat in his mouth, Legolas leaned closer, the fallen figure becoming clearer as debris condensed in the air.
Buffy.
His heart lurched again and his eyes widened.
"Buffy!" he exclaimed, reaching in to touch her disemboweled face. Water was what he touched as he withdrew his hand, tumbling backwards as he regained his composure. Wildly, Legolas looked up at a grave Galadriel. "What had happened to her Lady!" he demanded breathlessly.
"She has died." she whispered. "By death is how she came to us,"
"Died?" Legolas frowned. "Death…? But she is the slayer, my lady. Powerful, withstanding to death if chance may occur! How could she have died if she is with us?"
Galadriel closed her eyes for a moment, reopening them and startling Legolas from the doleful look appearing there. She sighed and ran a hand into the rumpling water, her eyes searching for any emotion. Then she answered.
"It is a simple answer, dear Elf. It is a simple observation. This is her hell, and whether she may come out of it alive I do not know. Because if the slayer dies among us in Middle- earth, she shall truly have no place for her soul. It will remain lost in a nether region, far away from here. And you will lose her,"
Yikes! A delay in updating, and big apologies to that. You want my excuse don't you? Well to make a long story short, my pets for over three years were taken away from me, my grandmother has fallen ill, homework is hectic, and I've had a large case of semi- reader's block. Here's your chapter all ready, and I'm definite you'll like it. Especially what will involve in such a short period of time. ^^
HAPPY GOBBLE GOBBLE DAY!
Treat your turkeys as they would treat you. :D
CHAPTER TWENTY: Pulled under.
By the time Buffy returned to camp, everyone was fixing their pallets and laying out pillows.
"Buffy?" Aragorn asked softly.
"Talking to someone? Yeah right, I bet he's with some Elf lady with bigger boobs and better tracking skills!" Angry, Buffy kicked at the dirt.
"What has happened?" Aragorn whispered. "What did Legolas do? And why is your dress so wrinkled — "
"We were in the middle of something," Buffy muttered. "and he left. Just like that, and he had the dignity to tell me to wait for him? Sorry, but I am not waiting for anybody anymore. I wait and I wait, and what happens? I get torn in half, and one part of me goes that way, and the other goes this way. It gets really annoying, almost like when someone keeps poking you in the side and after awhile it gets to you…. You know?"
The ranger sighed. "In a way, I do. What were you two in the middle of, anyway?"
Buffy narrowed her eyes. "I don't go snooping in yours and Arwen's business, do I?"
"I am simply asking…" he trailed off when Buffy walked away.
"Faith!" Buffy shouted. "Faith where are you?"
No answer came as Buffy searched her bed pallet, the place where she likes to watch Boromir, and the tall white tree that she was usually perched under when taking a nap. Buffy sighed.
"Where the hell can she be?" she wondered.
Giggling caught her attention. Buffy's head snapped to the side.
"Faith?" she whispered.
More giggling, this time followed closely by a distinctive male growl.
"Oh, Faith. You are my savior… My— my one and only!"
"What's my name, big guy?" Faith whispered in chiseled pleasure. "Say my name."
"FAITH!" was the shrill reply. "Faith is my mistress, Faith is my courtesan from the very haven's above. Oh beautiful Faith, how you make my knees weak, my head spin, my erect burning in my groins—"
Buffy didn't allow herself to listen to the perceptible foreplay carrying on between none of than Faith and Boromir. Feeling revolted from hearing way too much of the heavy dialogue, Buffy decided to change her paths and left the tree bivouac to clear her mind out from Legolas and especially from the unwanted image of Boromir naked.
Sighing, Buffy jogged on top a hill and reached for a withy branch, pulling herself on top of the knoll and down another golden path. Golden trees lined up down as far as the eye can see, sun light barely filtering through the careening leaves and branches. The wind, Buffy noticed, had become fearfully heavy and strong as they welcomed their stay in Lothlórien.
Not noticing that the path had divided into two separate ways, Buffy walked straight into a firm body and fell back into a flock of wracked up foliage.
"My lady," murmured a voice. "are you all right? I apologize, I was not watching where I was going."
Buffy blew leaves out of her mouth and looked up. "No problemo, I was the one that wasn't watching where I was going. I tend to do that since this place is like… so mystical and everything."
Haldir smiled and risen a brow. "Troubled thoughts, hmm?"
Buffy ran a hand through her hair and grinned. "Yeah, sort of."
"Here, let me help you up." Haldir said, reaching down a hand and gently lifting Buffy out of the pile of leaves. "You are as light as a feather!" he added in astonishment.
Buffy shrugged. "I get that a lot. Hey- aren't you that guy who led us through Lórien?"
"I get that a lot," Haldir teased. "but aye, I am. Haldir some call me, but usually it is just Haldir. Care to tell me where you were heading on such a lovely evening, when you can be sharing it with the Prince of Mirkwood?"
"I would but— how do you know about us?" Buffy asked.
"Because you just told me." Haldir replied, throwing his head back and laughing. "Also because it is so bluntly obvious that even a Dwarf could tell!"
Buffy made a face. "What's the deal with Dwarves anyway? Gimli seems like a nice guy, why don't Elves lay off with the whole discrimination thing? It's very annoying,"
Haldir frowned. "Something's that you have grown up upon remain the same even when those years have long passed, and choices are no longer made for you. I cannot help the way Elves are, my lady, it is simply a… a…"
"Thing?" Buffy finished with a nod. "I know exactly what you're talking about. It's like, one moment you have two people deciding things for you and the next you're on your own. And some of those things I can't even remember! One moment you are the only child, the next minute you have a younger sister that you have no recollection of having. And you have no idea what I'm talking about, do you?"
Haldir laughed again. "Actually, I enjoy listening to you talk."
Buffy smiled and stood in front of the Elf for what felt like ages. Awkwardly she begun smoothing down the front of her dress and picked at leaves from the inside of her cleavage, not bothering to notice that Haldir was making soft noises.
Looking up slowly, Buffy was confronted by the Elf playing a flute, a deep look passing over his face as his long fingers entwined with the small instrument. Buffy smiled and watched in silent admiration.
When Haldir had finished, he was caught by Buffy's strong scrutiny and smiled.
"Care to try?" he asked gently.
"Huh? Me?" Buffy raised her eyebrows. "No, I can barely play the harmonica so I don't expect to be any good with the flute. But that was lovely Haldir, you're good at it."
"I try my best," he said, though his eyes were agleam with pride. "You seem an interesting lady, Buffy Summers. Care to take the rest of the path with me? I am in dire need of a fair Lady's company."
Buffy was ready to oblige but something had caught her ear, and she turned her head around wildly. Nothing but the leafy path was in front of her face as she observed her surroundings, the trees, the earth's floor and back to Haldir's calm yet pleading face. Feeling herself smile again, Buffy nodded her head and took a step closer to the Elf.
"Sure, I feel like being in someone's company." she said, and they both made their way down the path.
Little did they know that they were being watched, and Legolas tore a branch in half in anger. How dare Haldir of Lórien take Buffy away from him! He had been following her when he had felt her discomfort below a hill, and there he had wanted to jump out and comfort her. Yet something stopped him, perhaps the ringing voice of Galadriel in his head. And it was there that Haldir had snatched her away from him so greedily, and there was where Legolas remained as he recalled the confrontation with the Lady of the Wood.
Legolas was sure that what the Lady was to tell him would be about Buffy, but he was not expecting her to be in front of a stone pedestal with such a sedate looking upon her face. Her voice seemed so rigid and angry in his head. Gazing at the Elf as he approached her, his heart gave a lurch when seeing her eyes. They were so cold… so lost.
"My Lady?" Legolas asked uneasily.
Galadriel made no sign of hearing him, and took a step towards a pitcher of water just beside the pedestal.
"You have given me quite a fright in my woods just a few moments ago, Legolas Greenleaf." she murmured, though her voice was mildly pleasant. "But the slayer is an endured soul, she has spirit. But you, my dear Elf… you have thrown the stone too far master Elf. And you have drowned in her eyes."
Legolas shuddered from the knowledge Galadriel held with his reasons with Buffy. Was she truly staring into his mind, reading his thoughts and corrupting his feelings? He had not bothered to question his own mind as his eyes caught the Lady pouring water into the pedestal. He took a frightened step forwards.
Galadriel focused on the Woodland Elf again, her scrutiny strong.
"What are your feelings for her, Thrandullion?" she asked gently.
"I love her, or so I think." He thought for a moment. "Yes… I love her."
"That is an ill burden." Galadriel stated curiously, tilting her head to the side. "Yet… I wonder, if she feels the same feelings as you do for her?"
"Of course she does," Legolas whispered, his eyes narrowing. "why wouldn't she?"
Galadriel heaved her shoulders softly. "Many men has passed in her time, Elf, maybe as many as you. And one treaded the same as you, a love filled with passion and remorse. For he too was immortal."
"I am different!" Legolas cried. "I care for her, for more than just passion. There is no remorse in our relationship!"
"No?" Galadriel asked dangerously. "Can you be certain, for the mirror tells me otherwise!"
Legolas' eyes were caught unaware of the agleam pedestal and its containing. Inside was the poured water, shining underneath the darkening sky and tinkering in a silvery glow. The Elf was contorted with several emotions as Galadriel beckoned him forwards. What shall he see? What will he feel?
Looking up at the Lady for an explanation, she remained impassive. Legolas licked the tip of his lip as he clutched the edge of the pedestal with care, his eyes boring into the mirrored water.
And there he saw a woman and a young girl. Dawn, perhaps? They were holding hands and staring off into the night sky, a purple flash blinding it as a figure came billowing down, hitting its target and destroying the property. His throat in his mouth, Legolas leaned closer, the fallen figure becoming clearer as debris condensed in the air.
Buffy.
His heart lurched again and his eyes widened.
"Buffy!" he exclaimed, reaching in to touch her disemboweled face. Water was what he touched as he withdrew his hand, tumbling backwards as he regained his composure. Wildly, Legolas looked up at a grave Galadriel. "What had happened to her Lady!" he demanded breathlessly.
"She has died." she whispered. "By death is how she came to us,"
"Died?" Legolas frowned. "Death…? But she is the slayer, my lady. Powerful, withstanding to death if chance may occur! How could she have died if she is with us?"
Galadriel closed her eyes for a moment, reopening them and startling Legolas from the doleful look appearing there. She sighed and ran a hand into the rumpling water, her eyes searching for any emotion. Then she answered.
"It is a simple answer, dear Elf. It is a simple observation. This is her hell, and whether she may come out of it alive I do not know. Because if the slayer dies among us in Middle- earth, she shall truly have no place for her soul. It will remain lost in a nether region, far away from here. And you will lose her,"