Buffy belongs to Whedon and everything else is Tolkien's.

Note: Big apologies for the long delay in updating. I had some massive writer's block and as a result just ended up taking a break for a while. Once again I just want to warn those that have not read The Two Towers that there will be spoilers for both the book and the film in this story.

Thanks for the reviews!

A Change In Direction

The tower was tall and menacing. It stretched upwards towards a sick, black sky and the air smelled of a putrid evil. Buffy stared up at the large doors before her with apprehension. She knew without a doubt that this was Saruman's home and that she had to go inside. Slowly climbing the stairs she remained tense and alert. The room was exactly where she knew it would be though how she knew was a mystery to her. It was there, waiting for her. The stone that saw. It was covered with dark cloth but Buffy knew what she would see if she removed that barrier. The Eye.

"This could be the key," Gandalf said from behind her.

"Key?" Dawn was the key, Buffy thought.

"It doesn't belong to him."

"Who does it - ?" Buffy turned to face the wizard but he was gone. And so was the tower she had been standing in moments before.

Everything was black and cries of terror could be heard all around but Buffy saw no-one. She ran through the darkness hoping that she would find those in trouble but there was nothing. A horrible roar of yells and shrieks pierced the air and Buffy felt her blood run cold. Her vision cleared a bit and she realized that she stood upon a high wall. She was all alone and her eyes widened as out of the darkness below came the giant mass of a huge army. The red glow of their torches could be seen flickering in the deep blackness. She had never seen anything like this. They were getting closer and Buffy could see their faces now. Orcs ran snarling next to wild looking men and both had weapons drawn and ready. There was no escaping from them. Buffy pulled herself into a fighting stance and stood ready to meet them.

* * *

Legolas sat with Gimli discussing the pros and cons of fighting with a bow and arrow. All around the makeshift camp was slowly coming to life. Soon it would be time to continue their journey to Isengard but for now many still slept in the quiet darkness of morning. The Elf smiled softly as he heard Buffy mumble in her sleep. She lay nearby wrapped in a thick blanket with her head pillowed on his rolled up cloak.

"You're staring again," Gimli said dryly.

"I know," Legolas answered.

Buffy began to thrash violently in her sleep as if she were trying to fight off some unseen foe. She was muttering incoherently as her arms flailed wildly.

Legolas moved quickly to her side and ducking a punch he shook her awake.

"Buffy!"

Buffy's eyes popped open and she sat up with gasp.

"There were so many," she said breathing hard.

"What did you see?" Legolas asked.

"An - an army," Buffy said still slightly out of breath. A tingly, knowing feeling flooded through her body and she jumped to her feet. "I have to see Gandalf."

"He is with Aragorn and Theoden. What happened?" Legolas walked alongside Buffy.

"I'd rather wait until we reached Gandalf. He might understand it better than me."

* * *

Saruman gazed intently into the fiery Eye within the palantir. Everything was going well with his army. They had made much progress against Rohan and he knew that Sauron would be pleased. Contacting Sauron through the palantir was always a rush for the wizard and when there was good news to report . . .

"What is it you want?" the black voice asked.

"When you have triumphed . . ."

"Yes?"

"I want the girl."

"Ahhhh . . . She has power, that one. More than even she knows."

"She fascinates me. She is of the race of Men but her will is so strong . . . I want to break it."

"If she lives . . .She will be yours."

Saruman nodded in satisfaction but then frowned as he felt the earth shift beneath his feet. He abruptly broke off contact with Sauron and covered the palantir with a cloth. An Orc burst into the chamber panting from the run up the stairs.

"We're being attacked," he gasped.

The Ents had arrived at Orthanc.

* * *

Buffy's head nodded to the plopping sound of her horse's hooves. Her thoughts continued to dwell on the significance of her dream. Gandalf had looked thoughtful when she had described what she saw but he had offered no explanation. He knew something he wasn't sharing though. It was irritating. The day had passed rather uneventfully and the sun rested low in the late afternoon sky. Fat, dark clouds were quickly rolling towards the large group of riders and Buffy shivered as a chill crept into the air. She sighed and slid her gaze to where Legolas rode beside her. The Elf had been very quiet all afternoon and since Buffy's thoughts had been engaged in thinking about her dream she hadn't tried to talk to him. He looked tense and alert

"What is it?" Buffy asked.

"I don't know," he answered. "I feel uneasy but I do not know what the cause is. I must speak with Aragorn."

Legolas turned his horse sharply and rode to the front of the line with Buffy right behind him. They had just pulled up next to Aragorn and Eomer when a cry went up among the soldiers.

"Rider!"

Miles away a tiny black dot could be seen getting closer and Buffy was impressed that he had been spotted so swiftly by the Rohan soldiers. The company was brought to a swift halt to await the rider. Buffy heard Legolas telling Aragorn of his sense of unease but for some reason her attention remained on a spot just to the north. Like Legolas a sense of foreboding was pulsing through her body and she knew something big was coming.

"Where is Eomer?" the rider cried as he reached the company of Rohirrim soldiers.

He was a tired looking man with a dented helm and a torn cloak slung about his shoulders. He slowly climbed from his horse and stood for a moment breathing hard. Buffy walked over to him and offered her water skin. He drank gratefully for a long moment before speaking again.

"I must speak with Eomer. You have come too late. There is no hope ahead. We have been driven back across the Isen with great loss of life. Then we were attacked again that night by a large force that included both Orcs and the wild Men from Dunland."

Buffy stiffened at that. An army of Orcs and Men, just like her dream.

"We were overpowered," the man continued sadly. "Erkenbrand of Westfold has taken those men he could gather to the fortress at Helm's Deep."

Theoden rode forward from behind his guards and made himself known to the rider. Buffy saw a look of awe and wonder pass over the man's face as he knelt before his king.

"I am here," said Theoden. "The last host of the Eorlingas has ridden forth and it will not return without battle. Give this man a fresh horse! We ride to the help of Erkenbrand!"

Buffy suddenly wondered where Gandalf had gone. She twisted her head around and saw that the wizard had ridden a little ways ahead where he sat staring northward towards Isengard. Suddenly he burst forward in a flurry of motion.

"Ride, Theoden!" he cried. "Ride to Helm's Deep! Shadowfax must bear me now on a swift errand." He turned to where Aragorn, Legolas, Buffy, and Gimli stood. "Wait for me at Helm's Gate!"

Gandalf spoke a word to Shadowfax and the horse sprang into action. He was gone before they had processed the fact that he was leaving.

Buffy was beyond confused. What had just happened? A few minutes ago they had been on the way to Isengard and now the whole company of Riders was turning in another direction. And Gandalf was gone - again. She put her question to Aragorn who swiftly explained that a large force of Saruman's had ridden from Isengard and was about to descend upon a smaller force of Men at the fortress at Helm's Deep. They were now riding to Helm's Deep to aid those barricaded within which was not just soldiers but women and children as well.

A large force from Isengard would no doubt consist of Orcs. The rider had mentioned that wild men were fighting beside the Orcs as well. Buffy closed her eyes and saw herself standing on the great wall looking out over the massive army as she had in her dream.

"Helm's Deep . . . Is there by any chance a large wall there?" she asked.

It was Eomer who answered. "Yes, milady. It is called the Deeping Wall and it stands twenty feet high. Four men could walk abreast along the top and the parapets are so high only a very tall man could look over. There are clefts in the stone so that arrows can be shot down upon the enemy."

"I like the sound of this place," said Gimli.

Buffy looked at Legolas. "It is just like my dream."

The Elf's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "Perhaps it was a warning."

"I don't know." Buffy sighed in frustration.

Night fell quickly and still they rode on to Helm's Deep. A scout reported seeing a host of Orcs and wild men riding out from Isengard and hurrying southward. They continued on and though they came upon several small bands of Orcs they were unable to overtake or slay any of them. In the stillness of night a harsh singing could be heard. Torches were spotted in the distance and a countless number of fiery lights stretched out on the fields behind them.

"It is a great host that follows us hard," said Aragorn

"They bring fire," Theoden observed sadly. "They are burning everything they come across."

Buffy stared out at the red glow of the fires the Orcs had set. She grew angry at the thought of such beautiful land being destroyed by such foul creatures.

"Buffy?" Legolas tapped her shoulder.

"Yes," she turned the look at the Elf and saw worry in his eyes. "What is it?"

"I . . . I don't want you to fight." Legolas looked at her, his blue eyes pleading.

"What?" That was the last thing she had expected him to say.

"You could get hurt," he said.

"Well, yeah, it kind of comes with the territory. You don't think I can handle myself?" Buffy was getting a little angry. She looked at Legolas and realization passed over her face. "You don't think I can handle myself!"

Now, she was angry.

"Buffy this is war. There are thousands upon thousands of Orcs out there and we are out numbered. There are places you can hide -"

"Hide! I am a Slayer and I don't hide just because I think I might get hurt. If I did I'd have never have left my bedroom."

"Please, you'll be safe -"

"Who says I want to be safe? Legolas, I can't just stand by while evil tries to destroy us. It goes against everything I am and everything I stand for. I am the Slayer and it is my duty to stop the bad guys. I am sworn to protect the world -"

"But this isn't your world and you are not sworn to protect Middle-Earth. Remember at the Council you said you didn't want to get involved -"

"But I am involved now. Saruman has seen to that."

Legolas made a noise of frustration. How to make her understand what was at risk here? He decided the best way was to simply get to the heart of the matter and speak out loud his greatest fear.

"You could die, Buffy."

"Wouldn't be first time," she quipped.

"Please do not take this so lightly!"

Buffy saw the distress on Legolas's face and was immediately apologetic. "I'm sorry I shouldn't have made fun. But Legolas nobody lives forever - well, except vampires but they aren't technically living and - uh, you I guess."

"I am afraid for you." Legolas stated softly.

"Why so afraid? It is no less dangerous than Moria or fighting those Super-Orcs that killed Boromir."

"Why am I afraid? You are mortal! You could be killed!"

"Elves can be slain in battle, you told me that. You could also be killed."

"I have no fear for myself."

"What if I insisted that you not fight because I was afraid something might happen to you?" If Buffy weren't holding onto her reins she would have crossed her arms over her chest.

"It isn't the same!"

"Yes, it is!"

"Buffy can you honestly tell me that you are prepared to die for this cause? That you are ready to give up everything even the possibility that you might one day return to your world?"

Buffy was quiet for a long moment as she thought. She met Legolas's blue eyes with her own and he saw the indecision in them.

"You will consider what I have said? You will consider not fighting?" Legolas asked.

"Yes," Buffy answered softly. "Yes, I will."