All of Middle-Earth belongs to Tolkien and Buffy is the evil genius of Joss Whedon.

All right, I am terribly lazy so I am not going to split the story into a third part. If I ever get around to it I'll combine the first and second part back into one story, but until then I'll just keep adding to the second part.

Thanks for the reviews and I hope you enjoy the new chapter : )

Aftermath

Helm's Deep.

They were going back to Helm's Deep. Buffy fought back images of battle and death while trying to focus on controlling her horse. The animal seemed to sense her sudden unease and it tensed beneath her. She patted its neck and tried to relax. There was screaming inside her head, hundreds of voices calling out in pain. She could smell the fetid breath of the Uruk-hai, felt its heavy weight upon her . . .

"Buffy! Wait!"

She blinked as her eyes came back into focus. Where was everyone? She turned and looked behind her to find that the company had halted some distance back while she had continued to ride on. Legolas was quickly approaching her on Arod.

"Where were you going?" he asked. "We stopped."

"I noticed," Buffy answered dryly. "I'm sorry, I guess I just checked out for a minute."

They turned their horses and headed back towards the company.

"Why did we stop?" asked Buffy.

"There are riders approaching from behind," answered Legolas. "Theoden called a halt to wait for them."

"Oh."

"What weighs on your mind, Buffy?"

"I-It's nothing," she said softly. "I'm just a little tired."

"Buffy-"

"I don't want to talk about it right now."

She heard Legolas sigh, but he did not press her further. They rode in silence until they rejoined the company. Aragorn looked as if he wanted to question Buffy, but a look from Legolas kept him silent on the matter. Gimli offered her a waterskin, which she accepted gratefully after slipping from her horse.

Legolas looked behind them, squinting off into the distance.

"I do not think we shall have to wait long," he said.

"What do you see?" Gimli asked. "Trouble?"

"It is still too dark to make much out. I can see that a host of riders approach but that is all."

"A final parting shot from Saruman, no doubt." Gimli began to finger his axe.

"I do not think so," answered Legolas. "I feel no sense of menace from them."

"Then we wait," Gimli said.

"I hate waiting," muttered Buffy.

* * *

The moon hung low in the early morning sky when the riders came within shouting distance.

"Halt!" cried Eomer. "Who rides in Rohan?"

The newcomers brought their steeds to a stop, but said nothing. A tall shadowy figure dismounted walked forward. He held out his palm in a gesture of peace and Buffy felt some of the tenseness ease out of her body.

"Rohan, did you say?" asked the figure. "We seek that land from afar in great haste."

"You have found it," Eomer answered. "This is the realm of King Theoden and none may enter it without his leave. Who are you?"

"Halbarad of the Dunedain," the man said stepping forward into the pale light cast by the sinking moon. He was dressed much like Aragorn with a dark cloak wrapped around him for warmth. "I am a Ranger of the North and seek Aragorn son of Arathorn."

"You have found him also!" cried Aragorn. He ran forward and embraced his fellow Ranger.

"I take it they know each other," Buffy observed. Gimli laughed gruffly.

"How many have come with you?" Aragorn asked Halbarad.

"Thirty," he answered. "That is all of our kindred that could be gathered in haste, but the Elves Elladan and Elrohir travel with us as well."

Halbarad motioned behind him and two figures dismounted and came forward. Their tall forms moved silently into the light where their long hair and pointed ears could be seen. Buffy felt her eyes widen for the two were mirror images of each other. Both had dark hair and clear grey eyes that seemed familiar to her, but she did not know why.

"We carry a message from our father, Elrond, for Aragorn son of Arathorn," said Elrohir.

Elrond's sons? Well, that explained the eyes then, Buffy thought.

"What says Elrond?" asked Aragorn.

"He says The days are short. If you are in haste, remember the Paths of Dead."

Aragorn's face tensed and his expression went blank for a moment. He looked back to where the palantir was concealed in a bag tied to his saddle.

"There is no time for talk," he said grimly. "We must ride."

The company made ready to depart and as Buffy remounted her horse she noticed that the Ranger, Halbarad, was watching her.

"You ride with a woman?" he asked Aragorn in surprise.

"Oh, Buffy's not a woman," answered Gimli.

"Excuse me?" Buffy asked, her green eyes narrowing to slits.

"Um - I didn't mean it like that. I just - I meant that -"

"Yes?" If Buffy had been on the ground her foot would have been tapping impatiently. She heard a sound to her left. "And what, exactly, are you laughing at, Legolas?"

The Elf cleared his throat and shook his head.

"You are strong and hearty," Gimli floundered "like a good, solid man."

"A man?!"

Elladan and Elrohir came to Gimli's rescue, thought they did not know it, when they interrupted the burgeoning argument.

"You are Buffy daughter of Hank?" asked Elrohir.

Buffy nodded.

"Our father spoke well of you," Elladan said.

"Why didn't I meet you in Rivendell?" she asked curious.

"We were in the North, hunting Orcs," answered Elladan. "We heard of your arrival at the Council."

"It is a great honor to meet you, Slayer," said Elrohir bowing his head solemnly.

"Uh, you too," replied Buffy.

"Slayer?" Halbarad asked confused.

"Yes," Buffy answered, irritation evident in her tone. She was really tired of having to prove herself every time they met someone new. "I am Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the Chosen One, or as I like to describe myself: she who hangs out a lot in cemeteries."

Halbarad looked more confused than before and Aragorn took pity on him.

"I assure you the Lady is quite capable," he said.

"Capable of what? Speaking in riddles?" asked Halbarad.

Buffy opened her mouth for a sharp retort but was interrupted by Eomer.

"Ride out!" he cried from the head of the company.

Buffy looked at Gimli before starting off.

"I'm still mad at you," she said kicking her horse into a trot.

"But Buffy -" Gimli called to her back. He tapped Legolas on his shoulder, "Legolas, you must help me."

"I am staying out of this," the Elf answered wisely.

"You called me a man!" Buffy said over her shoulder.

"I meant it in a good way!"

* * *

Helm's Deep looked so much different in the daylight. They had stopped at the fortress to rest, but Buffy found the idea of sleep impossible. She walked slowly along the top of the Deeping Wall and tried not to think about the last time she had been here. Her eyelids were heavy and she fought her weariness by pacing back and forth. If she gave into sleep she wouldn't be able to stop the all the horrible memories of this place from rushing over her . . . and then there was the Eye. Ever since she had looked into the palantir the image of the Eye had been lurking in her mind. And it wasn't just the Eye, there had been something else there too. A winged shape with blood red eyes that caused her senses to scream in warning. Her entire body had felt cold, right down to her bones, but there was something about the creature that she recognized . . . She leaned against the wall and her head dropped forward.

"Buffy?"

She blinked and jerked herself away from the wall. She had almost dozed off, she realized with horror. She didn't want to sleep, didn't want to see the terrible things that came with closing her eyes. Buffy felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to find Legolas standing behind her. Grabbing his hand she led him down off the wall.

"Where are we going?" he asked.

She didn't answer, instead she pushed him underneath an overhang created by the large stone staircase.

"Buffy, what -"

Winding her arms around the Elf's neck she reached up and kissed him feverishly. Oh, this was much better than sleeping, she thought. She felt his body tense in surprise and then relax against her. His arms pulled her closer and she pressed herself eagerly against him. One of his hands wound its way into her hair, which had come loose. Buffy grew increasingly frantic as she started pulling at Legolas's tunic. She had it unlaced half-way before he stopped her.

"Buffy," he gasped trying to catch his breath. "What is this? What is wrong?"

"Don't stop," she said leaning forward, but he drew back.

"Tell me," he said.

She looked at him for a moment and then dropped her head onto his chest. She told him about the horrible memories that had resurfaced with their return to Helm's Deep. When she was through he held her close for a moment.

"What else?" he asked.

"There isn't anything -" Buffy met his gaze and sighed deeply. "I - I keep seeing the Eye. You know the Eye of Sau-"

"I know," he said. His whole body had gone still against her.

"That's what I saw in the palantir," she continued, "and . . . there was something else. I saw a winged monster - I couldn't make it out very well, but it caused my blood to freeze up inside me. Every time I close my eyes I see it again and . . . I don't want to see it!"

"Why did you not tell Gandalf this?" he asked.

"I don't know," she answered miserably. "It was almost as if I couldn't at first and then later I was afraid he would make me go with him."

He took her hand and pulled her away from the overhang.

"Where -?"

"You need to rest," Legolas said. "You haven't slept in days."

He thought for a moment that she would protest, but she nodded her head. She was too tired to fight. Legolas led her through the main hall where most of the Rohirrim were sleeping on makeshift beds on the floor. He found a corner where Gimli, Aragorn, and Merry were already sleeping. Her bedroll was already set up next to Merry. Buffy slipped her boots off and wearily laid down. She grabbed Legolas's hand and pulled him down beside her.

"Don't leave me?" Buffy asked softly.

"Never."

* * *

Buffy awoke several hours later from a deep, untroubled sleep. She opened her eyes to find Legolas's unblinking gaze three inches away from her face. She let out a surprised "Ack!" before realizing that the Elf was actually asleep, or whatever it was that Elves did to rest. She looked at his wide eyed stare for a moment. Creepy. Sitting up slowly she saw that the sun had begun to sink. They had slept the whole day away. Gimli and Merry were snoring contentedly but Aragorn was missing. She felt restless, which she atrributed to the approaching sunset, so she put her boots on and wandered outside.

The air was slightly cool and a breeze caused Buffy to sigh in pleasure. It had been hot inside the hall. Feeling refreshed and oddly light-hearted she climbed the stairs to the top of the Deeping Wall, passing several Rohirrim soldiers on her way. They nodded to her in acknowledgement, giving her unbound hair appreciative glances. Ha! she thought, wishing Gimli were with her.

As Buffy walked she realized that she no longer had to fight back those dreadful memories of the battle here. It still bothered her, being back here, but it wasn't the terrifying experience it had been before she slept. It had been a relief to share her problems with someone else instead letting them fester insider her. She felt lighter and freer than she had in a long while. However, the images of the Eye and that monster were still floating around inside her mind. She pushed them aside, determined to let not them ruin her good mood.

The sun finally sank below the horizon and Buffy was contemplating returning to the main hall when she saw Aragorn sitting on top of the wall with his legs dangling over the edge. He was staring out over the land with a dark look on his face. She sighed, she knew that look. Buffy approached quietly and jumped on top of the wall. She looked down and fought off a tide of dizziness.

"Buffy!" Aragorn cried in surprise. "Sit down! You'll fall!"

"Well, I had to do something to get your attention." Buffy sat down. "So, what's with the big broody face?"

Aragorn looked at her and she rephrased her question. "What is the matter?"

"You would not understand," he said despondently.

"Try me," she said exasperated. God save her from broody, depressed males!

He hesitated for a moment before saying, "I have only recently had a great responsibility thrust upon me. For so long I was the only person I had to worry about and now . . . Arwen . . . Taking my place as Isildur's Heir . . . It weighs heavily on me. Gandalf, Elrond, Galadriel . . . Arwen . . . they are all expecting me to embrace my destiny and deliver a grievous blow to Sauron, while single-handedly reuniting all of Mankind. Suddenly, I have become the Hope of Men and everyone is counting on me to do something extraordinary to save them."

"No, I don't know anything about that kind of pressure," Buffy said sarcastically

"Should I falter in the slightest -"

"Then everyone could die and the world might end?" Buffy asked lightly. She gave Aragorn a sympathetic pat on the back. "Sucks, doesn't it?"

Aragorn looked at her and realized how ridiculous he sounded. Here he was wallowing in self-doubt, when there was nothing he could to change matters. He was who he was and he wasn't helping anyone by feeling sorry for himself.

Buffy grinned as she watched Aragorn's features relax.

"Well, you better get started on that whole uniting all of Mankind thing," she said, " 'Cause that sounds like it might take a while."