This chapter was completely spontaneous. I've been diagnosed with a bad case of reader's block while Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli go North in search for Arwen. I want to have in the meantime chapters uploaded while the plot thickens, so this chapter is one of those chapters. I hope you enjoy and thanks for reviewing. Really. . . if it weren't for you guys then I'd have no idea what to do with this piece of pie.


CHAPTER NINE: Decisions after basketball.





'Can you not feel the mistake growing the further we get to my home?' Legolas asked.

'Mistake or not,' Aragorn said. 'you have seen riders head North. They may yet be in your forest. . .'

'Whatever your direction may be, I will follow you.' Legolas replied, though in his heart he wished to return South and the longing of the sea still burning within his soul grasped once more at his heart. He had little time left. . . and the rumors of Buffy kept growing in the back of his mind as the dreams continued.


meanwhile. . .


Buffy tapped her fingers idly on the edge of the table, her eyes since through with scanning the chatty room and found interest with the intricate and boring designs of Rohan. She really missed Gondor and Éowyn.

'Deep thoughts aren't always good, y'know.' Spike stated.

'Thanks for the sentiments,' Buffy replied sarcastically. 'But I'm fine.'

'You are such a bad liar.' Spike taunted with a knowing grin.

Buffy gawked and slapped Spike on the shoulder, 'I am not a liar!'

'Miss, I never said you were.' a boy on the other side of Buffy croaked out.

Buffy then realized that he could not see Spike, and blushing a deep scarlet Buffy sat back in her seat and took a sip from her cup. Thankfully Eomer had given her water inside of that nasty wine everyone seemed to like drinking.

'Hitting empty chairs now, I see?' Eomer said, walking away from a group of politics.

'It. . . was threatening me?' Buffy said. 'Sorry, I usually get neurotic when I am cooped up inside for a long enough time. I mean, doesn't anyone here do anything besides talk about who they're going to marry?'

'I think the ladies adore you, Buffy.' Eomer said, then added with a smile: 'And who do you want to marry?'

'Okaaaay, changing the subject.' Buffy announced, taking another big gulp from her cup. 'Do you have any. . . sports here?'

'Sports?' Eomer and the boy asked in unison.

'Like. . .' Buffy carefully chose her words and sighed. '. . . games?'

'I've seen the children on the other end of the halls jounce a round ball before.' the boy answered curiously.

Buffy smiled and looked out of the window. 'It's pretty nice outside, compared to the last few days.' turning back to Eomer and the boy, her smile widened as a thought popped into her mind. 'Ever play basketball?'


X-x-x-x-X


'Let me get this straight.' Céldor, the boy from lunch, said once they were on an open field which was slowly gathering attention from nearby people. 'We have to bounce the round ball into those cherry baskets?'

Buffy shrugged and passed him the ball, 'It isn't as though you ate the cherries right? And what's the big deal? Afraid?'

The boys who had gathered with Céldor laughed along with him.

'You wish.'

'Then let's play some ball.' Buffy said, laughing and stealing the ball from Céldor.

At first Buffy was nonchalant at playing basketball, but something about this world provoked her to teach and it provided enough sense for her to have as much fun as possible. She would never be able to do this in Los Angeles or Sunnydale. And since she is in a completely different world, why not do whatever she wants?

Buffy pointed a finger at Céldor and another boy and laughed.

'Losers! I score, I score!'

As they continued to play, Monty turned to Eomer and shook his head.

'She's very lady like, isn't she?' he said grimly.

'She is every inch a lady.' Eomer replied dreamily, his eyes ever watchful on the Slayer. 'But I am curious as to why Gandalf is making us keep her secluded. She has been sulking around these lands for awhile, and look how her spirit changes. . . I just don't know.'

'Gandalf has his secrets.' Monty said softly, not agreeing with Eomer about Buffy's somewhat loveliness. 'But what exactly made her think it was proper to play that. . . sport, in a dress?'

Eomer smiled thoughtfully. 'Buffy is so unique. She is. . . perfect.'

Feeling someone's scrutiny, Buffy turned her head around and waved. 'Hi Eomer! Hi Monty! Want to play with us?'

Monty snorted but Eomer answered for them both. 'No thank you.' he shouted back, silently enjoying watching Buffy run around as the wind picked up the hem of her dress to show her long, pale legs.


afterwards. . .


When the game had ended, and everyone came back from the center of the field sweating and dirtied up, Eomer made sure he was the first to congratulate them at their victory.

Buffy laughed and whispered, 'I let them win.'

Eomer smiled softly and touched her cheek. 'I am sure you did, but you were wonderful nevertheless.'

Buffy stirred from his touch and did not like the reaction towards it, memory of hers and Legolas' night together, and closed the distance between them by moving away from him.

'Um, sure. I guess.' deciding to change the subject, Buffy turned her attention to the now darkening sky. 'Is it going to rain or something?'

Eomer frowned at Buffy's resistance to his touch and looked out into the sky as well, his frown deepening.

'It is just a shadow.' he told her. 'After Sauron was destroyed a shadow had grown over the lands that surround it.'

Buffy stared hard into the bleak sky and shuddered when her Slayer senses tingled like the night when Spike had decided to appear.

'Are you cold?' he asked worriedly but Buffy waved him off.

'I am having bad feelings about those black clouds.' she admitted.

'They are moving too quickly for clouds.' Monty added.

'What's that noise?' Buffy asked disgustingly, clapping her hands over her ears.

A shrill screech echoed along the air and pierced the people's ears.

Just then, Imrahil and a few men ran towards them, their breaths short and their weapons drawn.

'Flying, winged Nazgul!' Imrahil shouted, just as a large bird swooped down and brushed everyone off their feet and onto the ground.

Buffy was reluctant to latch onto the nearest person because the broad dark creature revved its long neck inwards, snapping at Buffy and attempting to grab hold of her. Crawling backwards, Buffy gained her composure and lifted her leg, kicking the side of the creature's protruding neck and emitting a cry of agony from the winged rider.

Buffy had the touch that creature's loathed, and the Nazgul hissed in annoyance and urged the creature forwards again but the black figure hesitated at getting touched by her again.

Sensing its fear, Buffy grabbed onto its neck as it decided to lean forwards again and lifted herself up onto it. The Nazgul started hissing something in its language as its ride roared and tried to grab onto Buffy. Buffy raised her fist and sent it into the grimy neck, emitting another cry from the creature.

'Get her down from there! She is not suppose to be up there!' she heard someone yell.

'This. is. for. trying. to. bite. me.' Buffy punned, sending another wave of attacks at the winged creature. 'And this is for ruining my day, you stupid bastard!'

Buffy clenched her fist tightly and rammed it strongly into its neck, denting the black flesh and sliding her entire hand into its blood. Feeling the warm liquid on her knuckles, Buffy slipped out her hand and raised her eyebrows.

'Eww, the blood is green!' she shouted. 'Why is the blood green!?'

'Get. . . her. . . off.' The Nazgul hissed, and the creature lifted its neck and Buffy slipped off of it and landed ungracefully onto the field below. People were still running and screaming, and arrows began to fly into the creature.

'Get the girl inside, hurry!' Monty demanded, and just then Buffy felt herself getting lifted up on her feet and dragged away.

'They want you Buffy.' someone yelled in her ear. 'He wants you, he is looking for you!'


afterwards. . .


'How many people are injured?' Eomer asked in hushed tone.

'Seven, mi lord.' answered Imrahil. 'Three of the young boys were taken by the winged riders. I. . . they are lost in the sky, and I doubt their return.'

'Inform the parents.' Eomer ordered.

Buffy licked the side of her mouth and kept her head lowered, her eyes fixed on the marbled floor.

'This is another attack on our group.' Monty observed, and Buffy knew his eyes were on her. 'And I wonder what they are after?'

'It is obvious, they are after the girl!' a guard shouted, standing from his seat and making his way over to her. 'She is putting our children in danger, our men and even ourselves. She does not belong here!' he waved his hand violently.

'Enough!' Eomer shouted angrily, his eyes glaring back at the guard. 'She is a guest here, just like you. Would you want to be kicked out of your own stay?'

'Then what do we do with her?' The guard asked, his voice lowering but he was not backing down.

'Okay, hello, I'm still here.' Buffy said angrily. 'And since I am obviously not welcomed here- Eomer, shut up- and I am obviously putting people in danger because some dark Lord decided to hunt for a twenty first century Slayer, then it would be wise that I leave Rohan at once. By myself,' she added, seeing the look of hope gleam in Eomer's eyes.

'But where would you go?' Imrahil asked. 'Whoever is looking for you then they will end up finding you. . .'

'. . . wherever you. . .' Eomer began.

'Are.' Buffy finished, sighing and biting her lip. 'But I'm putting people in danger, and three boys are dead because of me.'

'Where would you go though?' Imrahil repeated.

Buffy looked away thoughtfully and when she turned back, her face had gone pale. 'To the Sire?'

'How can you. . . you cannot be. . . are you serious?' Monty stuttered.

'Oh Lord, she is.' Eomer said shakily.

'I can't sit around anymore. I'm going after him.' Buffy said determinedly. 'And I am going alone.'

'I'm coming with.' Spike said nearby and she turned towards the entrance, where smoke was rising from the burning of the Nazgul's creature, and there stood Spike, determined and shiny.

Eomer sighed. 'Gandalf would not want this to happen. . .'

'Do you see Gandalf, Eomer?' Buffy asked and nodded. 'So what he doesn't know won't kill him, right?'

'The rider's came North. . . from the direction of Mirkwood and the Misty Mountains.' Imrahil put in.

'Then off I go to the Misty Mountains.' Buffy said. 'And I am good with directions, so point me in the direction and I am there.'

'Let us hope she knows the way.' Imrahil said gravely, and everyone's gaze turned to the growing night sky, where bodies had been taken from their home just a few hours ago.

And Buffy was more determined then ever. She'll find this guy, take him out and destroy him. He won't live to see the age of. . . well, however old he is.

And Spike is coming with me. . . Buffy thought miserably with a shake of her head.





Okay, so what did you think of that chapter? Took a damn well good time to make, so I'm just hoping it's good. Um. . . I guess I'll say my thank you's for reviewing down here? Okaaaay, author comments coming your way:

Judith: Thaaanks, it's called English. :P

Fallon: I'm going to make my own Sunnydale episode, so I'm not sure when this is taking place. . . I'm just using my imagination because the time set in Buffy's universe would take too long to explain.

Kelly: Thanks. ^-^

Streetracer: Don't worry, I'm probably as crazy as you are. And thanks! I really love being on your weird level, it makes me feel wanted. :D And yes this is going to be a romance but not a sticky romance meaning. . . it's not going to be the every day romance you see in other stories. Legolas will appear soon, and there'll be more one night stands. . . oooh ;)

Charlina: LoL, I love Spike too. That's why I added him into the story with other reasons in mind. . . I'll take whatever suggestions anyone has to offer, I really like hearing what everyone likes.

Laura: I've made Legolas out to be bad? No no no, stubborn, not bad. When Legolas wants what he wants, he gets it.

Sparrow Luver: I agree with you, Dawn/Legolas couplings aren't really my favorite. And there is too many Willow couplings out there, so I'm glad to see a few Buffy/Legolas couplings floating around. . .


Keep reviewing and thanks. And keep in mind about commentary on chapters, I'm willing to listen!