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

*Thud* Over 300 reviews! Big THANKS!!

A funny side note - As I was re-reading the last chapter I realized that when I had spell checked I must have clicked the wrong button because the Elvish word vanilme suddenly became 'vanilla' and Mmmmmm was changed to 'Mamma' . Anyway, I'll go back and fix it when I upload the next chapter.

Enjoy the new chapter, I had fun writing it.

Girl Power

"Just a little more," Buffy said making a slight adjustment. "There, that should do it."

"It is a shame the Rangers don't wear armor," Eowyn said. "It is much easier to hide under a helm than a simple hooded cloak."

Buffy regarded her friend carefully. Eowyn was dressed in breeches and boots common to the apparel of the group of Rangers traveling with Aragorn. A simple, dark brown cloak was wrapped around her with the hood pulled low to hide her face. She carried a bow and a quiver full of arrows, as well as a long, sharp dagger.

"Can you see my face?" asked Eowyn.

"Nope, you are totally incognito," Buffy replied.

"Pardon?"

"Don't worry, you can't see anything," Buffy said trying to reassure Eowyn. She rubbed her eyes tiredly and stifled a yawn. After the excitement of the previous night's nocturnal visitor, Buffy had spent an hour 'discussing' her vision of the monster with Aragorn. The discussion mainly consisted of Buffy sitting quietly while Aragorn yelled at her for not telling him about the creature earlier. There had not been any more time to rest before working on Eowyn's disguise.

"I do not believe this will work," Eowyn said tugging her hood down.

"Yes, it will. Now, we have to go, it's time to leave." Buffy grabbed Eowyn by the hand and pulled her out the door.

They immediately split up so that Eowyn could conceal herself within the group of Rangers. Buffy went about her preparations as normally as possible, although she was tense, expecting Aragorn to cry foul at any moment. She tied her pack to her saddle and gave her horse a pat.

"You are up to something."

"Me?" Buffy said trying to sound nonchalant as she turned to face Legolas. She widened her eyes and looked at him with what she hoped was an innocent expression.

"That is not working," he said.

"What?"

"Buffy . . ."

"Oh look, there's Aragorn," she said pointing. "It must be time to go."

"Buffy -" Legolas started, but Buffy waved him off and walked over to Aragorn.

"Eowyn asked me to say goodbye for her," she told him. "She - uh - wasn't feeling well this morning."

Aragorn studied her carefully.

"You are up to something," he said.

"What!?" she sputtered in disbelief. How could they possibly tell? "I don't know what you're talking about."

Aragorn was watching the company prepare to depart. Suddenly, his eyes narrowed and he turned to give Buffy a withering look. He walked down to where the Rangers stood and plucked Eowyn out of the group. With a hand on the back of her collar he pulled the struggling woman to where Buffy stood waiting and threw her hood back.

"This was your idea," he said to Buffy.

"What! My idea ! I don't - I mean - How did -" Buffy paused and considered the look on Aragorn's face, "Yeah okay, it was my idea."

"I want to come with you," said Eowyn jerking away from Aragorn's hold. "Do I not have the right to fight for my people as you do? I can do more for them on the battlefield than I can do caged up here!"

"You said as much last evening," he replied. "My answer remains the same."

"She should be allowed to come if she wants!" Buffy cried.

"Neither her brother nor her King would approve. She does not have their permission."

Legolas groaned and muttered, "Now you've done it."

"Permission?! Permission? She's a woman, Aragorn, not a child!" Buffy glared at Aragorn. "If she were a man you would let her come. This is because she's a girl, isn't it?! It's sexism!"

When Aragorn didn't answer right away Buffy took his silence for assent.

"Stupid men! Think they're all big and macho and can boss people around," Buffy muttered. "Girls are just as good boys."

"Yes," said Eowyn breaking into Buffy's tirade. "Girl power!"

"Girl power?" Aragorn repeated.

"Yeah," Buffy said slinging an arm around Eowyn. "I taught her that."

Aragorn shook his head in exasperation. These two were making his head hurt. "Nothing will change my decision. She is not coming, it is too dangerous."

"I can wield a blade as skillfully as any Rohirrim soldier," Eowyn said stiffly.

"I do not doubt your abilities," said Aragorn.

"See, she can take care of herself," Buffy said. "She's coming."

"No, she is not," said Aragorn. "The road is perilous and she does not have Theoden's consent."

"She is perfectly capable of making her own decisions," Buffy stated defiantly.

"She is standing right here!" Eowyn cried angrily. "I will not be discussed as if I were not present. Aragorn has refused his permission for me to accompany you on this journey and I will accede to his wishes."

"But -" Buffy began.

"No, I will not be the cause of dissent between the two of you," she said. "I will wait for Eomer and Theoden-King."

"The Lady of Rohan is wise," Aragorn said.

"This does not mean that I agree with your decision, Aragorn," Eowyn said sharply, "or your reasons for making it."

Aragorn stiffened and then bowed before walking over to where the horses were tied. Once he was out of earshot Buffy looked at her friend in disbelief.

"Why did you give up so easily?" she asked.

Eowyn reached over and gave Buffy a farewell embrace. "I will make my own way. You will see me on the field of battle, Buffy, and we will fight together."

Buffy nodded and clasped hands with Eowyn. She then moved back towards her horse but was intercepted by Legolas.

"Buffy," he said, "about last night -"

She placed her hand lightly on his chest. "I know - I - I think I got little overwhelmed."

"I just wanted you to know that I meant every word," he brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back. From a distance Gimli could be heard shouting for the Elf's attention. Buffy smiled as Legolas heaved a long suffering sigh. A last, lingering look passed between them before he turned and walked over to where Gimli was unsuccessfully attempting to mount Arod.

Buffy heaved a large sigh of her own. Why was everything always so complicated?

* * *

The journey to the Paths of the Dead would take a day and a half of hard riding and by the end of the first day Buffy was exhausted. They had traveled so swiftly that the horses seemed to be on the verge of collapse, causing Aragorn to finally call a halt as night fell. Buffy patted her horse sympathetically and offered it an apple she had swiped from the kitchens at Edoras before leaving that morning. The animal bit gratefully into the fruit, leaving a trail sticky juice and slobber down Buffy's hand and wrist.

"Gross!" she cried, quickly wiping her hand off with the corner of her newly washed cloak. After filling a bucket of water for the horse to drink she untied her pack from her saddle and made her way over to the rest of company. She saw Aragorn sitting apart from the main group, staring off into the darkness. Buffy rolled her eyes. He was, no doubt, brooding again.

"You know if you keep making that face, it'll get stuck that way," she said sitting down next to him.

Aragorn remained quiet.

"Oh! You're not still mad about that Eowyn thing are you? I had to try, you know!"

He smiled a little and glanced at her, "Yes, I suppose you did."

"You are doing the right thing," Buffy stated.

"Perhaps," he replied. "And perhaps I am leading us all to our doom."

"You are doing the best that you can," she said. "That is all you can do."

"Well, we will find out soon if it is enough," Aragorn said. Suddenly, Buffy noticed that he was fingering some sort of dark cloth that lay across his lap.

"What is that?" she asked curiously.

"Nothing," he looked at her closely. "You should rest, there are circles under your eyes."

"Gee, you really know how to flatter a girl, don't you?" Buffy asked sarcastically, but she had to agree with him. She needed some sleep. Giving Aragorn a final pat on his shoulder she made her way over to where the company had spread out their bedrolls.

"I have saved you a spot," Gimli said to her, patting the ground next to him.

"Thanks," Buffy replied yawning loudly. She flopped onto her bedroll and closed her eyes. A few seconds later one green eye popped open and she asked, "Where is Legolas?"

"He has first watch," the Dwarf answered sleepily.

"Oh," she murmured already sinking into slumber.

* * *

It was warm. The sun beat down on her skin pleasantly and the roar of waves could be heard. There was sand between her toes and she wiggled them, enjoying the sensation. She opened her eyes and gazed at the beach. Now, this was a good dream. No red-eyed monsters or insane wizards anywhere. Overhead the cry of gulls was loud and unpleasant. Buffy covered her ears, trying to block the sound out. How dare those stupid birds try to ruin her good dream? The noise began to dull but as it receded something else could be heard. A voice, faint but familiar. Buffy's forehead crinkled in concentration.

"Legolas Greenleaf . . ."

Legolas? What did he have to do with her dream?

"Beware of the Sea . . ."

Why did Legolas have to be afraid of the sea? She strained to hear more but everything had gone quiet. The voice was gone.

Well, that was weird, she thought. And why was a warning for Legolas showing up in her nice beach fantasy?! Buffy sighed in disgust. Couldn't she have one night without a freaky, cryptic dream?

Suddenly, a wave of coldness passed over her and her senses burst to life. Something was wrong.

* * *

Buffy's eyes popped open and she was instantly alert. Flipping herself onto her feet she immediately saw what it was that had awakened her. The creature had returned.

The night was pitch dark, but she could tell that the thing stood at least seven feet tall and this time it was not merely circling them overhead. It had landed. The camp was coming alive with cries of alert, but she tuned them out because clutched in the monster's clawed hand was Aragorn. He hung like a dead weight and Buffy prayed that he was only unconscious. Without another thought and moving purely on instinct Buffy ran in their direction. The creature swung out with its free hand, knocking several Rangers to the ground. The rest hung back with their weapons drawn, unsure of whether to approach or not. One of Legolas's arrows pierced the monster's neck and with a sick sound it pulled the arrow out and tossed it aside. The thing wasn't even phased. Reaching underneath Aragorn's cloak it pulled something out and then tossed Aragorn to the ground. Buffy slid to a stop before the monster.

"I am so gonna kick your ass," she said taking up a fighting stance.

The creature turned to face her and Buffy felt recognition wash over her. The face was pale, almost white and appeared bat like. But the bumpy forehead was there, and the fangs.

Buffy smiled grimly as her eyes narrowed.

"Vampire," she said.

"Slayer," the vampire hissed back at her.

Elladan and Elrohir were suddenly at her side with Legolas close behind. Buffy put up a restraining hand.

"Leave it to me," she said.

With a burst of strength and speed she launched herself at her enemy. Her first punch landed with satisfying thunk and she quickly spun to deliver bone crunching kick to its side. It tried to hit back, but she blocked its effort easily and slammed her fist into the vampire's head. It staggered back and then recovered. Buffy cried out as its clawed hand dug into her upper arm. She flipped herself backwards and delivered a vicious kick to what she hoped was the vampire's knee. Ducking a punch that would have taken her head off, she moved into a series of fast, pounding kicks.

Legolas watched Buffy fight in awe of her abilities. He had seen her fight before, knew how good she was . . . but this . . . She did not even have a weapon, he realized. Flinching as Buffy took a hit and stumbled back Legolas saw his chance. He pulled one of his daggers out and threw it with all his strength. It landed in the monster's chest causing it to cry out in pain.

Buffy saw the dagger impaled in the vampire's chest and recognized it as one of Legolas's. She leaped forward and pulled the weapon out. Now she was armed. The wound it had left was smoking and the vampire was doubled over in agony. She moved in for the kill, but before she got close enough the monster spread its wings and heaved itself into the air. It was going to escape! Something dangled from the vampire's waist and Buffy quickly jumped up and ripped it off before it flew too high. She tried to latch onto it so, it couldn't fly away, but it was a lost cause. The vampire flapped its enormous wings and beat a hasty retreat into the night.

Buffy groaned in frustration and looked down at what she had taken from the vampire. It was a familiar looking leather bag with something heavy inside. Wait, she thought, this is Aragorn's bag. She looked into it and froze. It was the palantir. That vampire had been trying to steal it.

"Buffy!"

She turned and saw Legolas running towards her.

"You are bleeding," the Elf said gently inspecting her injured arm.

"It stings like the devil," said Buffy. She winced as Legolas probed a little to hard.

"My apologies," he said.

"S'okay," she replied. "Thanks for the dagger."

"You were unarmed. Why?"

"I wasn't thinking. I just - It was instinct." She looked Legolas in eye, "That thing, it was a -"

"Vampire," the Elf finished grimly. "I know, I heard you. It knows who you are, Buffy."

"You caught that too?" she asked. "Aragorn? Where is he? Is he okay?"

Legolas walked her over to where Aragorn sat slightly dazed with Elladan and Elrohir standing over him. He held a cloth to his head where it was bleeding. Buffy dropped the bag she had been holding onto his lap.

"Lose something?" she asked.

"The palantir," he mumbled. "Where -?"

"Fangs was trying to steal it," Buffy explained. "Two guesses who he works for."

"Saruman," Legolas stated.

"That's where I'd put my money," Buffy replied.

"No," Aragorn shook his head. "Gandalf all but destroyed Saruman. He has no power."

"Yeah, but who else would be after that rock?" Buffy asked.

"Buffy?" asked Elrohir, "I heard you call that demon a vampire."

"Yes," she answered. "But, it isn't like the ones I fought in my world. That vamp was bigger and stronger - plus, you know, the wings."

"I remember reading something in my father's library," the Elf continued, "It was many centuries ago, but it mentioned something about Sauron using winged blood suckers as messengers."

"So, the vamp is working for Sauron," Buffy concluded.

"Why would Sauron want the palantir?" Aragorn wondered. "He already has one."

"Maybe he just wants a matching set," Buffy said, "you know, to put on his evil coffee table."

"Or, he does not want us in possession of something that will help our side," Elladan said.

Legolas suddenly stiffened and looked around.

"What?" Buffy asked him concerned.

"Where is Gimli?" he asked. "I have not seen him."

"Nor have I," said Aragorn.

"Well, the last time I saw him . . . but, no he couldn't have," Buffy said. She turned followed by Legolas and they went back to where she and the Dwarf had been sleeping. He was still there. Asleep. He had slept through everything.

"I can't believe it," she said.

"I can," Legolas mumbled.

Gimli snorted and rolled over. Buffy reached down and shook him awake.

"What?!" he grumbled sleepily. "S'time to get up?"

* * *