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

Note: I am sorry that I haven't been able to update more frequently in the past couple of weeks but work has kept me from having time to write. I hope everyone enjoys this new chapter because I had fun writing it. 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!

Happy Holidays everyone!!

Choices

She considered it for about five minutes. There was no way she going to let her friends risk their lives while she hid somewhere. It went against every fiber of her being and while she understood that Legolas was just worried about her she couldn't help but be a little irritated that he would even suggest it in the first place. Granted she had never taken part in a battle as large as the one about to take place but that wasn't going to stop her. No matter where she went or what world she was sucked into she was still the Slayer and it was her duty to fight against evil.

"I've thought about it," she called to Legolas's retreating form.

"You are going to fight," he said resigned.

"Of course I am."

"You could die."

"I think we've already had this discussion," Buffy said.

Legolas looked at her with resigned sadness before turning and walking away.

* * *

Buffy gazed up in wonder at the Deeping Wall which rose twenty feet high in front of her. She found it difficult to comprehend how such a thing could have been built. As the host of riders passed through the gates and entered the fortress Buffy found herself sighing gratefully. Knowing that several feet of thick stone separated her from the approaching army gave her a little relief and she was impatient to get off her horse. After riding for hours upon hours her legs were stiff and sore. Once her feet were on the ground she began trying to work the kinks out of her muscles. Her eyelids felt heavy but she knew no rest would be had this night so she forced herself to stay alert. Her mind once again wandered back to Legolas. They hadn't spoken since their disagreement and the more Buffy thought about it the more irritated she became. How could he have asked that of her?

Eomer and Aragorn stood nearby and it was the sound of their shouted orders that drew Buffy away from her thoughts. Now that reinforcements had arrived the fortress could be properly manned and a strong defense mounted. Buffy admitted that they knew much more about this sort of strategy than she did. She was accustomed to battles on a much smaller scale. The Mayor's Ascension seemed like a tiny skirmish compared to the battle that was about to occur here. This was war.

Buffy saw Legolas looking in her direction and felt herself stiffen. She didn't want to get embroiled in another argument with him so she decided to spend what little time there was before the battle exploring the fortress. She thought better when she was walking anyway. She suddenly remembered overhearing Aragorn say something about caves and her eyes quickly sought out Gimli.

"Want to do a little exploring with me?" she asked the Dwarf.

"Exploring of what kind? There is much work to be done before the Orcs arrive."

"We won't be gone long. I just remembered someone saying something about some caves. . ."

"The caves of the Deep," Gimli said with a gleam in his eyes. "I think I could spare a few moments."

With that the Slayer and the Dwarf set out to find the caves. Gimli found the first one set deep back into crevice and Buffy admitted that if it hadn't been for the Dwarf she probably would have walked right past it. It was dark and damp in the cave but then again it was dark and damp outside as well. The first ten feet or so was quite narrow but as Buffy squeezed through a narrow passage what she found on the other side made her stop in shock.

"Hmphf!" Gimli banged into Buffy's back and made a noise of protest. "Why did you stop?"

"Gimli," Buffy said softly and stepped aside so he could see. "Look."

Stretched out in front of them was a vast cavern. And it was full of people.

"These must be the folk of Westfold," Gimli observed.

"What are they doing here?" Buffy asked. The whole place looked like one of those refugee camps that Buffy had seen on CNN. People, mostly women and children it seemed, were sleeping on makeshift bedrolls or huddling together wrapped in blankets.

"Their homes and land have been destroyed by Saruman's army." Gimli answered. "They have come to Helm's Deep for protection as there was no where else to go. Were you not paying attention when Eomer explained all this earlier?"

"Sorry, I kind of tuned him out." Buffy admitted.

Gimli looked at her reproachfully.

"What?" Buffy said defensively. "I have a short attention span."

Since it was so late into the night many of the rooms occupants were sleeping restlessly on the hard floor. However, many were still awake sitting in small groups and looking warily at the newcomers. They seemed tense and nervous as if they could sense the great evil that was about to fall on Helm's Deep. Off to the side a group of children were playing a game though it was obvious they played without the energy and excitement that children their age usually exhibit. Their faces were somber and subdued. A profound sense of tragedy and sadness permeated the air but at the same time Buffy felt an undercurrent of a fierce will to survive.

"This is why," Buffy said softly.

"What was that?" Gimli asked.

Buffy spun on her heel and quickly exited the cave with Gimli racing to keep up with her. As she burst out into the night she stopped for a moment and closed her eyes. Turning sharply to the left she headed up a narrow stone staircase where she found Legolas in conversation with Aragorn.

"I have to show you something," Buffy grabbed the Elf's arm and drug him back the way she had come.

"Where are we going?" he asked.

"To the caves."

Buffy led him back to the cave where Rohan's refugees sought shelter. Even though she knew what they would find she was still affected by the sight of so many innocent people forced to live in these conditions. Legolas stood silently beside her.

"This is why I have to fight," Buffy said. "This is why you have to fight - why we all have to fight. If we fail just think of what those Uruk-Hai things will do to these people - these children."

She saw Legolas briefly close his eyes before turning to look at her with remorse.

"Even before you brought me here I had begun to regret my actions. I am sorry Buffy it was wrong of me to ask you not to fight. I was being selfish. It would be an honor to stand next to you in battle and defend those who cannot fight for themselves."

Buffy smiled softly and took the Elf's hands in her own.

"You're forgiven," she tugged on his hand. "C'mon, we need to get back to the Wall."

* * *

Buffy slowly climbed up yet another set of stairs. The army from Isengard was nearly upon Helm's Deep and the battle would begin soon. She shifted the quiver of arrows on her back and fiddled with the bow on her shoulder. She had just paid a trip to the makeshift armory Theoden and Aragorn had set up. She now had several small knives about her person as well a small fighting axe at her waist (Gimli would be proud of her), a sword, a bow and set of arrows, and her Lothlorien daggers. It all weighed quite a bit but Buffy was a bit nervous about the impending battle and she figured every little bit helped.

She reached the top of the wall and saw Legolas, Gimli, and Aragorn standing together watching the approaching army. Making her way over to them she felt one of the knives she had tucked in her boot slip and she bent to fix it.

"Buffy!" she heard Aragorn exclaim.

She quickly stood and the weight of her weapons threw her off balance causing her to stumble slightly. She looked at her friends and saw that they were all biting back grins.

"What?"

"Buffy you've never even used a bow," Legolas said.

"I told you I have a natural affinity for weapons, besides every little bit helps." She explained.

Aragorn walked over and began removing various weapons from her.

"What are you doing?" Buffy jumped back out of his reach.

"You will not be able to move properly if you are buried under so much metal. The sword, the bow, and the daggers should suffice."

Buffy looked down at the numerous weapons attached to her body.

"I guess it was kind was kind of overkill," she said grinning.

"Over kill?" Gimli asked confused.

"I mean that I just went overboard with the weapons," Buffy unstrapped a knife from around her knee.

"How did you go over a board? Did you jump?" Gimli appeared thoroughly confused as did Legolas and Aragorn.

"I just have too many weapons on me," Buffy said.

They nodded their heads in agreement and she sighed.

All around the Rohirrim soldiers were beginning to take their places along the top of the wall. The thunderous sound of the approaching army could be heard in the distance and Buffy hurried to look out over the wall.

"Oh my God," she breathed as her eyes widened in shock. It was one thing to have someone tell you that a massive army is approaching but to actually see it . . . Thousands upon thousands of flickering red lights stood out against the blackness. It was like some sort of sick version of the starry night sky. Doubt began to creep into her mind. It was impossible. They could never defeat an army this size.

"I wish I'd had time to practice with this," Buffy drew back on the bow experimentally.

"There are a few moments yet," said Legolas. "Do you see that piece of wood down there?"

Buffy squinted into the darkness below the wall. It took her a moment but her eyes finally found the old shard of rotted wood that Legolas referred to.

"I see it," she drew an arrow from her quiver and carefully aimed at her target.

"Put you shoulders back," Legolas instructed. "And you are holding the bow to low."

Buffy felt Legolas come up behind her and she felt a warm tingle at his closeness. His breath blew soft on her ear as he repositioned her arms ever so slightly. It was very distracting. He nodded in satisfaction and stepped back.

"Very good Buffy," he said and Buffy felt a moment's pleasure at his praise. "Now try to hit the piece of wood in the center."

Drawing a deep breath Buffy closed her eyes and reached inside to the Slayer part of herself. She knew this weapon as she knew all weapons. The knowledge was in her somewhere she just had to find it. Concentrating she aimed at the wood and then fired.

She missed the center by a few inches but her arrow hit the piece of wood at one end.

"You have never fired a bow and arrow before?" Legolas asked in wonder.

"Nope," Buffy grinned at the look on the Elf's face.

"That was very good," said Aragorn. "I will place you up front with the archers."

"I want to try again," she said.

"No," ordered the Ranger. "Keep your arrows. You will need them."

Just like that the reality of what was about to take place came crashing back down and doubt crept back into Buffy's mind. It told her all was lost and that none would survive this night. She grew quiet as she watched the enemy approach. Aragorn was carefully lining up a long row of archers along the wall and Buffy found herself standing amongst several Rohirrim soldiers. Legolas stood next to her and she could here Gimli griping from the other side of the Elf. The sound of the Uruk-Hai was becoming deafening and Buffy admitted to herself that she was afraid.

Legolas regarded the approaching army with revulsion. His kind hated the servants of Sauron fiercely and while he was concerned about how outmatched they were he couldn't wait to bury his arrows in the necks of as many Orcs as possible. The entire defensive force atop the wall was silent whether from fear or just strict discipline the Elf didn't know. Suddenly a small voice broke the silence and Legolas looked down in confusion.

". . . bump, bump . . . I've got to get away, I've got to . . . bump, bump . . . run away. . . from the pain you drive into -"

Buffy broke off her nervous singing and looked around at the curious faces regarding her.

"Did I say that out loud?" Her cheeks pinkened with embarrassment. The Rohirrim soldiers merely blinked in response but Buffy saw Legolas nod.

"Sorry," she said as Aragorn came pushing through the line of soldiers to stand next to Legolas.

"There is nothing to do now but wait," he said grimly.

It was maddening watching the enemy creep closer and closer. The army was nearly upon Helm's Deep. Buffy suddenly felt every inch of her mortality. It was very possible that this would be her last night on earth - er well, her last night on Middle-Earth anyway. She might never have the chance to see Dawn or Xander or Willow or Giles again. And all her friends here, Aragorn, Gimli . . . Legolas. The could die as well. She knew without a doubt that she had to fight. Too many people were counting on them to keep the enemy from breaking in. She would gladly give her life to save those innocent people but . . .

She slid her gaze to where Legolas stood tensely beside her. Well, if this was going to be her last night there was one thing she wanted to do before she died. Grabbing a very surprised Elf by the front of his tunic she kissed Legolas directly on the mouth. Considering there was an army of monsters thirsting for their blood only short distance away it certainly was not the most romantic of kisses. However, it did not suffer from lack of feeling on either part. Buffy tried to tell Legolas everything she was feeling through her kiss and somehow she knew he understood. The roar of the enemy invaded their moment and they broke apart breathing hard.

"You had better live through this," Legolas ordered Buffy sternly.

She smiled softly before drawing her bow and waiting for Aragorn's signal to fire.