Buffy belongs to Whedon and everything else is Tolkien's including much of the dialogue between Gandalf, Theoden and Wormtongue which I took directly from the book.

Note: This hadn't occurred to me before but something I read on one of the reviews made me realize that not everyone reading this story was familiar with the full plot of the Lord of the Rings. I just wanted to warn those that have not read the The Two Towers that there will be spoilers for both the book and the film in this story.

Thanks for the reviews!

The Golden Hall

"Halt!" a strong voice commanded as Eowyn led the company inside the Keep.

One of the soldiers who had been standing by the door came striding towards them.

"Hail, comers from afar," he said in the tongue of the Riddermark. On seeing the confusion on the majority of faces of those he addressed he quickly repeated himself in the western tongue.

"I am the Doorward of Theoden," he continued. "Hama is my name. Here I must bid you lay aside your weapons before you enter."

With great reluctance one by one the remaining members of the Fellowship parted with their weapons. Hama came to stop in front of Buffy and tensed as he studied the sword she had handed over to him.

"You have stolen this from soldier of Rohan!" he cried.

"Stolen is such a strong word," Buffy said. "Really I like to think of it more as borrowing. In fact, I am all done with it now so you can just return it."

"You are an escaped prisoner," said Hama. "I should have you thrown back into the dungeon."

He began to motion to a few of the nearby soldiers but before his hand got very high the tall, regal looking Elf stepped in front of him.

"You will not lay a hand on her," the Elf commanded.

"She is under my protection," Eowyn said trying to break the tension.

"Very well my lady," Hama took a step back.

Aragorn was last to lay his sword down and he was very reluctant to do so. Finally after some persuasion from Gandalf he agreed.

"Here I set it," he said; "but I command you not to touch it, nor permit any other to lay hand on it. In this elvish sheath dwells the Blade that was Broken and has been made again. Telchar first wrought it in the deeps of time. Death shall come to any man that draws Elendil's sword save Elendil's heir."

Hama looked at Aragorn in amazement and an awed silence fell over those who had overheard his speech.

"Can we go now?" Buffy asked impatiently from the door.

* * *

The King of the Riddermark looked just as old and shrunken as Buffy remembered from the brief glance she had gotten during her chaotic escape. Sunlight glinted off the stone floor sending a rainbow of color throughout the large hall. Tapestries hung from the walls depicting ancient legends and Buffy found her eye drawn to one that showed a man blowing a horn upon a great white steed.

"Behold Eorl the Young," Aragorn said.

The travelers came to a halt before the dais where the King sat bent with age. Eowyn went to stand behind Theoden's throne and Buffy watched Wormtongue's eyes follow her from his place on Theoden's other side. Then Wormtongue's gaze came to rest on Buffy and he shrank back in fear.

Buffy smirked. Now who was afraid of who?

"Hail, Theoden son of Thengel!," Gandalf said. "I have returned. For behold the storm comes, and now all friends should gather together, lest each be singly destroyed."

Theoden rose slowly to his feet leaning upon a short staff. Buffy was surprised that although he was still bent with age he was a very tall man.

"I greet you," the King of the Mark said, "and maybe you look for welcome. But your welcome is doubtful Master Gandalf. You have ever been a herald of woe and trouble follows you like crows. With you come evils worse than before, as might be expected. Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow? Tell me that."

"You speak justly, lord," Wormtongue's voice oozed out of his mouth. "It is not five days since your son Theodred was slain upon the West Marches. And Eomer has proven himself untrustworthy by bringing Gandalf's spy into these halls. Such is the hour in which this wanderer chooses to return. Why indeed should we welcome you, Master Stormcrow?"

"You are held wise, my friend Wormtongue and are doubtless a great support to your master," Gandalf said softly.

At the mention of Wormtongue's name Legolas had gone rigid. His eyes shone with angry fire and he looked as if he would like nothing better than to reach over and strangle Wormtongue with his bare hands. Buffy noticed his reaction and placed a soothing hand upon his back. He looked down at her and on seeing the yellowed bruise covering the side of her face his eyes hardened further and he moved to take a step in Wormtongue's direction. Buffy grabbed his arm to keep him back but he strained against her. She heard Gandalf and Wormtongue conversing but was unable to follow what was being said because all her attention was focused on holding Legolas back.

"Gimli!" Buffy whispered to the nearby Dwarf.

He turned and on seeing her struggle with the Elf he came to place another restraining hand on Legolas's arm.

"Please calm down," Buffy said quietly. "Really this whole protective thing was cute at first but it's getting a little irritating."

"Don't be a fool, Elf!" Gimli muttered. "Gandalf knows what he is about."

Legolas relaxed a little and Buffy knew the small crisis was over, for now at least.

"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late," Gandalf said.

"I'll say," Buffy agreed dryly.

"You," said Theoden pointing to Buffy. "You are the girl that came bursting in here a short while ago. Who are you? And how do you know these travelers?"

"Who am I?" Buffy asked incredulously. "I am the one who came to you sick and in need of help only to be thrown into the dungeon to suffer through days of fever and hallucinations."

"This is Gandalf's spy that you spoke of?" Theoden turned to Wormtongue who had actually managed to turn a shade paler than he already was. "You did not say she was ill."

"Eomer tried to tell you," Eowyn said a little crossly.

"She is more dangerous that she looks," warned Wormtongue. "She is a companion to Gandalf and these travelers, my King. Was I not right to be suspicious of her?"

"Suspicious, yes but I see no need to have treated her so badly. She looks as if she has been beaten."

"She has been beaten," said Legolas in a tight voice, "by your advisor Wormtongue. When she was too sick to be able to defend herself."

"Is this true?" Theoden sounded angry.

"I was merely trying to get information out of her. I know they have traveled through Lothlorien for they wear the raiment of the Elves that dwell there. They could be in league with the Sorceress of the Golden Wood and a danger to this land."

Gimli growled and moved to step towards Wormtongue but Gandalf's voice stopped him.

"The wise speak only of what they know, Grima son of Galmod. A witless worm have you become. Therefore be silent, and keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a serving-man till the lightning falls."

The wizard stepped back and raised his staff. Thundered rolled throughout the hall and the sun was blotted out leaving everything in darkness. Gandalf could be seen standing tall and white before the hearth.

"Did I not counsel you, lord, to forbid his staff," Wormtongue hissed.

A crack sounded and flash of lightning shot through the hall. A deep silence filled through room and Wormtongue lay sprawled on his face.

"That was so cool," said Buffy.

* * *

Buffy sank gratefully into the warm bath that had been drawn for her. There was no time to linger and she immediately set about scrubbing herself clean of the filth that had accumulated on her during her sojourn in the dungeon. It felt wonderful to be clean again. As she washed her hair her mind began to wander back to the events of that afternoon. Wormtongue had been exiled and though Buffy believed him to have gotten off lightly she was glad he was gone from the city. Eomer had been released and the King had named him heir to the throne. Even now Theoden was closeted away with Gandalf and Aragorn as they made plans to ride on Isengard. Buffy smiled grimly, they were to set out with an army of Rohan to battle the evil of Isengard and Buffy couldn't wait for the opportunity to avenge Boromir's death. She ducked her head underwater and rinsed the soap from her hair. She had just dried off and slipped on a warm woolen dressing gown when there was a knock at the door.

"Yes?" she called.

"It is I, Eowyn. I have a change of clothes for you."

Buffy opened the door for her friend and the tall Lady of Rohan glided into the small bathing chamber. She held a cream colored dress in her hands that had beautiful golden embroidery around the hem and the collar. It was very pretty but if they were to ride for Isengard as soon as possible she would need her old clothes back.

"Your clothes are being mended," Eowyn said on seeing the look on Buffy's face. "They should be ready within the next hour or so but until then you may wear this. The King has arranged a hasty feast prepared so that you and your companions may know the hospitality of Edoras before you depart for Isengard."

Food sounded wonderful to Buffy's empty stomach and she quickly dressed while Eowyn pulled her hair back with an ornately carved wooden clip.

It was a refreshed and eager Buffy that reappeared in the great hall where a long table had been set out for the feast. She saw Legolas's eyes light up as she entered and felt her cheeks redden slightly. Calmly walking over to the table she sat down beside the Elf and motioned for Eowyn to sit next to her.

"You appear much improved," Legolas said as his warm gaze slid over her.

"I feel much improv -," Buffy broke off and regarded Legolas sharply. "I looked that bad before?"

"Of course not," he answered quickly. "It is simply that you were so dirty and . . ."

"Smelly?" Buffy asked with narrowed eyes. "You know this really is not how you win a girl over."

Legolas looked at imploringly at Aragorn who sat directly across the table.

"Help," he said.

"You have dug your own hole, my friend." Aragorn said with laughter dancing in his grey eyes. "I have no wish to fall into it with you."

"Well?" Buffy asked Legolas.

The Elf was at a loss for words. It was in the process rolling her eyes that Buffy noticed the way Eowyn was gazing at Aragorn. Uh oh, she thought, I'll have to talk to Eowyn about that later. The food began arriving and for the next hour Buffy focused on filling her belly and listening to Gandalf explain how he defeated the Balrog. All too soon, however , it was time leave. Her clothes were returned to her along with her weapons from Lothlorien. Buffy found it comforting to have them back. She was given a horse although she had as many reservations about riding as Gimli did. Adrenalin was beginning to course through her veins at the thought of finally getting to put Saruman were he belonged.

"Bye, Eowyn," Buffy said hugging her friend tightly.

"Farewell Buffy, would that I could journey with you." Eowyn said with a hint of wistfulness in her voice. She had been named just moments before the leader of the Eorlingas in the King's absence so it was her duty to stay behind and look after her people.

"What is this?" Theoden shouted on seeing Buffy ready to ride out with the army. "I refuse to allow a woman to accompany an army. She rides only to meet her death."

"I am going with you," Buffy said stiffly.

"I will not allow it. You are to remain with Eowyn." Theoden commanded.

"You aren't my King so you can't tell me what to do," Buffy snapped.

"What is the problem?" Gandalf asked.

"I will not allow a woman to ride to battle against Isengard."

"I'm going," said Buffy.

Gandalf regarded the Slayer for a moment as if trying to decide whether or not she should go.

"You said once that this was not your fight," the wizard said to Buffy.

Buffy thought of Saruman and all the terrible things he had done to her in the name of Sauron. And Frodo who had been forced into shouldering a great burden in order to save Middle-Earth. Then she thought of Boromir lying dead with thick Orc arrows piercing his body.

"It is now," she said.