Thanks for the reviews! Much appreciated and needed, and this may feel like it's going slow but trust me it'll start catching up. Remember, this is a romance and action adventure. (hint hint)

Happy Thanksgiving as well.




CHAPTER TWO: Vampire Slayer




'Vampire slayer?' everyone murmured.

'Vampire slayer?' Legolas repeated in surprise. 'There hasn't been a slayer in these lands since the beginning of the first Rangers!'

Buffy fought back the urge to roll her eyes. 'Well, here I am, in the flesh. Kinda. What happened to me?'

There was silence as everyone gazed back at the fragile woman standing before them.

Legolas was the first to stir, and he took a step towards her.

'You speak with such formal regard to what you are saying you are,' he said angrily. 'And you speak in lies! Your accent is foreign here, Lady, so foreign that it may be lead to Mordor. Can you tell me that, Lady? Are you really from MORDOR?!'

'Legolas!' Gandalf boomed. 'Stop that this instant!'

Buffy narrowed her eyes as they Elf drew closer, his dark eyebrows risen high above his forehead and his thin lips curled forwards in a snarl. And when he didn't see her cringe or shake in the slightest, he withdrew and stepped back.

'Yes my Lord, forgive me.' he muttered, his eyes remaining on Buffy.

'Lady Buffy,' Gandalf stated softly, leaning against his tall staff to peer at her clearly. 'you are a mystery in my tired eyes, and yet you have not explained yourself clearly. Come,' he added, taking her hand.

'Wait, hold on.' Buffy said. 'Can't I like— get a shower first? If I want my scars to go away I need to clean myself off a little, the dry blood is getting a tad bit annoying.'

Gandalf smiled. 'So you care to cleanse yourself before hearing of your tale?'

'I have a tale?' Buffy asked. 'No, I guess you are right. Lead away then.'

'There shall be a counsel then!' Imrahil proclaimed. 'Come, everyone shall meet in the Citadel and discuss these new tidings! We have a vampire slayer on our hands now,'

Buffy hid a smirk. 'Sure. On your hands.'

Just as everyone readied themselves towards the doors, a horn was blown, ringing somewhere outside the Houses of Healing.

'What is that?' Éowyn asked quickly.

'They've arrived.' Aragorn stated breathlessly. 'The people of Imladris and Lothlórien have arrived.'

'Of who and what?' Buffy cried, watching as everyone filed out of the antechamber. Turning her head around she gave Gandalf a weary look and shook her head. 'I hate it when these things happen, exactly like Sunnydale. And you know what, I bet you I died.'

Gandalf frowned at that. 'Dead? Oh, my dear girl, I can assure you that you are not dead.'

'And I can assure you that I know when I'm dead. I'm good at that sort of thing,'

'You know the feeling of death?' asked Legolas, who Buffy hadn't noticed remained.

'You can say that.' she murmured.

'Come, Buffy.' Éowyn said firmly. 'I shall set a bath for you and help you rid that awful Orc stench from your body. I am sure you are aware of what a corset is?'

'I have to wear a corset?' Buffy repeated, astounded.

Éowyn smiled and excused both Buffy and herself from the company of the Istari and the Elf. Legolas turned to Gandalf when the women had left, a discontented look sketched across his face.

'A vampire slayer, Gandalf?' He asked, unsure if she was telling the truth.

Gandalf nodded and turned to the Elf gravely. 'I am afraid so, Legolas. Evil still lurks around these borders, we must keep her safe for now.'


* * *


When Buffy had taken a bath, she wrapped a large towel around herself and stood near the window by her bed. It was summer time, she was sure of that, but what confused her was why the weather in Sunnydale had been so cold when she last remembered it to be. A sigh escaped her lips as she focused on something else. She couldn't remember anything and that bothered her.

'I see you've been able to see enough of the city, have you?' Buffy whirled around.

'Whoa! I'm partially naked here!' at seeing the Elf, Buffy leapt neatly for a robe.

Legolas smiled. 'I am sure you are aware that I am an Elf, and I worry not about nudity. Your bare self is safe with me, my Lady.'

'Elf? I never met an Elf before, especially one that isn't ashamed of a naked woman.' Buffy said. 'I'm sorry about before, I shouldn't have been so blunt about who I was. It's just... I'm not from around here and I'm really desperate for a way out. And I am really cold so, can you turn around so I can change?'

'Oh!' Legolas blushed and turned around. 'I am sorry, you just have lovely shoulders.'

He heard her snort. 'Yeah right. I am way too skinny.' a pause. 'Oook, you can turn around now. The only thing showing is my legs, but I'm use to showing that off at Sunnydale.'

Legolas smiled. She did look lovely, considering the Orc blood and scarring had mostly faded away.

'I came here for Gandalf,' he said. 'the council for you is about to start. Apparently, you are the first vampire slayer to appear in these lands before Sauron had corrupted the mortal souls.'

'And the first girl vampire slayer too.' Buffy taunted, walking out of the room with Legolas. 'I know all about your medieval time discrimination. You think women are less than men,'

Legolas frowned. 'Not in the Elven society, my Lady, but you must ask Aragorn about that. Ah, turn down this corridor Lady, the council is being held outdoors.'

'No citadel?' Buffy asked. 'Too bad, I never been to one. Well, except law class at college. Um, this way right?'

The Elf nodded and directed Buffy down a flight of steps that led them outside. Gardens surrounded the path leading to the tall buildings directly in front of them, and as they passed by the little houses Buffy could swore she saw hairy footed children run pass.

'Did you see that?' she asked, looking up at Legolas.

'See what?' Legolas asked with a risen brow.

Buffy shook her head and revved up her speed in steps.

'Nothing.'

When the came upon the tall building near the little houses, they were greeted by an all too anxious Aragorn and a angry looking Gimli.

'News of fair folk have rung the city.' Aragorn exclaimed joyously. 'They have arrived with Lord Elrond and they are resting from a wearing travel! I can break out into lyric, I am incredibly joyous!'

'He is acting like a young lad!' Gimli grunted, though his eyes were flashing with gleam.

'Young love,' Legolas said with a grin, walking up the steps and into the citadel.

Buffy was a little hesitant as she followed. The room was brightly lit as she entered, accidentally bumping into Legolas' back when she could not focus on the light. A round table was set in the center of the room, with tall paintings running all the way to the ceiling and a chandelier that hung at the very top of the roof swayed idly as people settled in their seats. Buffy fidgeted behind Legolas, not really use to such a debating deal with the fact that she couldn't remember anything and the resurrection of a vampire slayer.

Weirdoes, she thought dryly.

Gandalf smiled warmly upon seeing the Elf and the girl together.

'A fond welcome indeed!' he said. 'Now we may all start this counseling business, the decision, and then feast!'

'What decision?' asked Buffy.

Gandalf hadn't bothered to answer her as he lead her to a chair besides his. It was a comfortable chair with red linden cushioning and soft arm rests. Buffy leaned into it with a deep sigh, glad to be off her feet though she'll never admit to that. Across from her sat Legolas, Aragorn, Gimli, Imrahil and several other men that had resemblance to King Arthur's soldiers, all wearing bright silver armor an maroon robes.

Something to her side caught her eye and she turned. The hairy footed children!

'Meriadoc Brandybuck, at your service.' said the child. 'How do you do?'

'Um, fine.' Buffy lied. 'Since when do they have children at these sort of things?'

'We eeren't children!' said another child beside Meriadoc. 'We ooor Hoobits.'

'Hobbits.' Buffy inwardly laughed at the way that sounded. 'Right, well I am the slayer named Buffy, resurrected from hell itself. Nice to meet you.'

'Peregrin Took.' addressed the Hobbit.

Buffy smiled but was unable to say anything further, because Aragorn stood from his seat and silenced the room. Buffy stared up at him in surprise, because this man resembled Angel an awful lot. Angel? Why did she say that for? Shaking her head from her reverie, she gazed back at the faces looking upon her and sat up determinedly.

'I know none of you would care to be here right now,' Aragorn said. 'but this must be discussed. As much as we hoped that evil had ended after the Ring had been destroyed, it has not.' murmurs corrupted the Citadel and Buffy heaved a sigh. Aragorn continued, 'The slayer has awoken from the hell mouth and returned to us once again. What can we say about this, council?'

More murmuring and then a man with a burly beard stood, pointing a finger at Buffy.

'She cannot be the slayer!' he exclaimed. 'The slayer had been a mortal man the last time I checked. How can she possibly be the slayer, she is just a fragile girl!'

'Fragile girl?' Buffy cried. 'I swear to god, the next person that thinks that I'm going to kick his -'

'Ahem.' said Legolas. 'Let Aragorn continue, please.'

Buffy muttered something and crossed her arms. Aragorn coughed, and continued.

'We have kept the Lady in secret in a single room at the Houses of Healing, and there she regained her usual strength, and the Lady Éowyn had brought her ere.' he sighed. 'I fear though, that this has been a warning for all of us to remember that another evil remains here on Middle- earth, and with the Elves gone who will we depend on? The slayer?'

Eyes bored into Buffy and she shuddered, unable to take it after a moment or so.

'Listen, I've defended my people in Sunnydale, and I kept my city safe by doing what it is I do. But I'm not from here, and I don't know that way your world functions. Yes, I am the vampire slayer, but I slay vamps and demons and whatever it is that's lurking around I can't help you with it. Sorry, but I just want to go home.'

'There may not be a home for you, Buffy Summers.' Gandalf said gravely. 'For we know not of where you came from at the precise moment. I assure you that you are safe here from harm, and we ask nothing of your strength. But you are the vampire slayer.'

'What's that suppose to mean?' Buffy asked angrily.

'You came to us.' Legolas blurted out suddenly. 'This is a gift! O Iluvatar, what do you bestow on such a worthy world? We had done our share, and you bring us a slayer?'

Buffy blinked. 'You people break out into songs way too much, and all I am trying to say is tough luck. I was brought here by a portal, not by whatever ill avatar you think is so worthy of having me here. Sorry again, but I am finished with my work. Sayonara bad guys and evil things! I saved my people, so now I'm on a break. A vacation!'

Aragorn sighed from across the table. 'Everything is occurring far too fast, I cannot grasp the meaning. So this council shall be continued at a better time, when everyone has settled into their place and the city has cleaned up. I have guest to attend to, so if you excuse me I shall leave. This council has ended.'

'A better time?' Buffy repeated. 'There's one problem there.'

'Yes?' asked Legolas.

'There isn't going to be a better time!' Buffy growled, kicking her foot underneath the table and sitting back sulkily. She was starting to hate this place by the minute, and these stupid males weren't giving off good first impressions.