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

I have been without the internet for the past week and a half, but that has all been straightened out and I am back with a shiny new chapter. Hope everyone enjoys it and keep sending the reviews in because I love reading them.

Elvish Lessons

Buffy stood amongst a black void. She had been here before. The Eye was in front of her, emanating evil and malevolence, but that wasn't what had captured her attention. Something else was here with her, something that felt familiar but different at the same time. Her Slayer sense was screaming and she searched wildly around her for the source of her discomfort. There was a rush of air at her elbow and she spun to her right. She felt something leathery scrape across her upper-arm and she saw . . . Oh God . . .

* * *

"Buffy," said a small, excited voice. "Wake up."

She jerked awake and sat up with a gasp.

"Red eyes!" she cried.

"What?"

"Merry?" Buffy mumbled. God, what a horrible dream! The Eye and . . . that thing. She had only been able to see its eyes, but that had been enough. Red with small black pin pricks for pupils, she had felt herself burn under their influence.

"I didn't mean to scare you," Merry was saying, "Aragorn told me to fetch you. He has something he wishes to speak with us about."

She remembered Aragorn leaving her atop the Wall after their discussion. He had said there was something important he had to do. Buffy had returned to the Hall to try and rest some more before the sun rose.

"What is it?" she asked concerned. "Is something wrong?"

Merry shrugged, "He only asked that everyone meet him outside."

Buffy pulled her boots on and followed the Hobbit out of the Hall.

* * *

The mid-morning sun shone down on the small group that waited outside. Buffy studied the faces around her. King Theoden and Eomer were here, as well as Elladan and Elrohir, and the Ranger, Halbarad. Gimli was also present and, of course, Legolas remained nearby.

Buffy immediately went to the Elf's side and leaned into him for support, she was still a little shaken by her nightmare. Legolas unconsciously slipped an arm around her. She read the question in his eyes and shook her head, they could talk later. He nodded and turned his attention back to Aragorn.

Elladan and Elrohir regarded Legolas and Buffy with some surprise. The Elves were both intrigued by the pair's familiarity. The two seemed to understand each other without speech.

Aragorn cleared his throat and everyone gave him their complete focus and attention.

"After receiving good counsel last evening," said Aragorn, acknowledging Buffy with a small nod, "I made an important decision. I have looked into the palantir."

Buffy froze as gasps could be heard from those gathered.

"You have looked into that accursed stone?!" Gimli said in surprise.

"It is rightfully mine," answered Aragorn. "I had the right and the strength . . . barely."

He paused.

"What happened?" Buffy asked

"It was a bitter struggle," Aragorn began. "I spoke no word to him and in the end I wrenched the Stone to my own will. He beheld me and to know that I live and walk the earth was a blow to him, I believe, for he was unaware of my existence until now. In the hour of his great designs he will remember Isildur's heir and the Sword that has been reforged. He is not yet above fear."

"But he wields great dominion," Gimli said, "and now he will strike more swiftly."

"The hasty stroke often goes astray," Aragorn answered. "We must move quickly and press the Enemy. No longer can we wait for him to strike first. I have mastered the Stone and seen many things. Peril comes from the South toward Gondor unlooked for. It will draw too much strength away from Minas-Tirith and unless it is countered the city will fall ten day from now."

"Then it will fall," Eomer said sadly. "There is no help to send that would arrive in time."

"I must go myself," said Aragorn.

"But there are only ten days - ," Gimli protested.

"I will take the Paths of Dead," Aragorn stated.

The reaction to his declaration was immediate. Theoden and Eomer visibly paled and then tried to talk him out of it while Gimli argued that the road would be his doom.

"The living cannot take such a road and survive," the Dwarf grumbled.

"The living have not used the path for many ages because it is closed to them, but the Heir of Isildur may use it if he dares." Aragorn explained. "Elrond bade me to remember the Paths of the Dead and so I shall."

"Uh, excuse me, but what exactly are the Paths of the Dead?" Buffy asked.

"In the Second-Age the Men of the White Mountains swore their allegiance to my ancestor, Isildur," Aragorn explained. "They broke their oath and were cursed to walk the Paths of the Dead until the time when they could redeem themselves. They can break their curse if they follow me."

"So, your plan is to show up and save this city with an army of dead people?" Buffy asked.

Aragorn nodded.

"Okay," she said. "Sounds like . . . a . . . good plan."

"I suppose you will require some company on your journey," said Gimli.

"Only of your free will would I have you come," Aragorn said. "You will find both toil and great fear, and maybe worse."

"Sounds like my kind of road trip," Buffy said. "Count me in."

"I will go with you," Gimli said.

"And I," added Legolas. "I do not fear the Dead."

It was quickly decided that Halbarad and the Rangers would also join them as well as Elladan and Elrohir. Aragorn insisted that they leave as soon as possible.

"You may ride with me, Merry," Buffy said while tying her pack to her saddle.

"I must stay with Theoden," the Hobbit answered.

"What? Why?"

"I have sworn allegiance to him," Merry said with pride.

Buffy could see this was very important to the Hobbit. She smiled and hugged him farewell.

"You will behave?" she asked.

Merry simply winked in response before rushing off to say goodbye to the others. Buffy sighed, she would miss Merry. It seemed a shame that they should have to part again so soon.

"Buffy? Are you ready?" Legolas asked as he approached leading Arod.

"Yes," she answered.

"You seemed disturbed earlier . . ."

Buffy thought back to her nightmare. She came to quick decision that what was before them now was more important than her bad dream. It was just the lingering effects of looking into the palantir.

"Never mind, it isn't important," she said.

"Buffy-"

"Really, it's nothing to worry about."

Besides, she thought, it wasn't as if that had been one of her slayer dreams. Nope, just another nightmare.

* * *

They had been riding for several hours when Buffy suddenly found herself in deep conversation with Elladan and Elrohir. Legolas had moved up to speak with Gimli, who was riding with Aragorn, and the Elves had approached her with questions about where she came from. Buffy enjoyed answering, though attempting to explain things like cars and hair dryers took a great deal of time. She began asking them questions about their home, but quickly became confused with all the Elvish place names and could not keep them straight. Elrohir decided that it would be his duty to teach her some of his language, so that she may follow along with their stories. Buffy response to his suggestion was dubious, after all her attempts at French in high school had been nothing less than disastrous.

"We will begin with the basics," Elrohir said. "The Elvish word for 'I' is 'amin'."

Buffy repeated this until Elrohir was satisfied.

"Next," Elladan said joining in, "the word for 'you' is 'Ile'."

Buffy surprised herself with how quickly she began to catch on. They progressed past the fundamentals and moved onto expanding her vocabulary. This went on for awhile. The twins would point at their surrounding and give the Elvish names for them, while Buffy tried to stuff it all into her head. She had a feeling she would forget at least half of it by tomorrow.

"Elen sila lumenn omentilmo," Buffy said slowly.

"Very good, my Lady," Elrohir said.

"A star shall shine on the hour of our meeting ," she said thoughtfully and then smiled brightly. "That's nice."

Elrohir was struck with how her face was transformed when she smiled. She had been lovely before, but . . .

"Vanimle sila tiri," he said reaching over and kissing the back her hand.

She blushed, "What does that mean?"

"Let us get on with the lesson, shall we?" Elladan said frowning at his brother's antics. "Let us try another ' 'Quel re ', that means good day."

A sudden thought struck Buffy and she turned to Elladan. "Legolas called me something the other day, could you tell me what it means?"

"Why did you not ask him?"

"I did," she answered and then realized, "he never answered. There was a lot going on at the time."

"I will tell you," Elladan said.

"I can't remember exactly, but it sounded like 'melon friend'."

Elrohir began coughing violently, while Elladan looked at her in shock.

"Do you mean that he called you 'melamin'?" he asked.

"Yes!" Buffy said. "What does it mean? You said that 'amin' was the word for 'my', so it must be my something. I don't know the rest, you'll have to tell me."

Elladan remained quiet and seemed at a loss for words.

"Well," he said finally, glancing at his brother, "it means . . . You should really ask Legolas."

"Why?" Buffy asked a little worried by their reactions. "Is it something bad?"

"Depends," Elrohir muttered.

"What?"

Elladan glared at his brother, "If you will excuse us, I have just remembered that their is something my brother and I need to discuss with . . . Halbarad."

"Um, all right," she said watching them ride away.

Well, she thought, that was weird. She was definitely asking Legolas about this.