(just so you all know, this is in response to a review I got at
fanfiction.net. I am keeping it here, because I think that some of oyu
might have the same question/comments/concerns.)
A/N: to the one question I've gotten so far: Where's Spike? I decided that I wanted Dawn to come, instead of Spike. Spike is with Xander. I just switched the two of them. Spike's blood wouldn't have opened a portal. Only Dawn's.
Oh, another thing: about pairings: I don't plan on any at all. The ending I have written has no pairings at all. I just put my fingers to the keyboard and what ever comes out I post. (or pen to paper. You know what I mean!)
Thanks for the reviews. If you have any questions, ask them. And I'll try to answer!
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"Oh, Buffy! This is Eowen!" Dawn said, seeing her sister approach.
"Hello, Lady Buffy. Lady Dawn was just telling me about the battle's you've fought." Buffy sent her sister a withering look.
"She was interested in why we were able to fight." Dawn defended.
"I am not afraid of death, just being locked into a cage until I am too old to defend myself! I can fight as well as any man here, and since I am a woman, I am not allowed to. Just because are not permitted to fight with weapons, that doesn't mean we can't die upon them."
"Exactly!"
"Lady Buffy. His Grace requires a word with you." A man appeared by her side, if she had been on edge, he would have been dead by now.
"Only one?" Dawn asked, giggling, but Buffy's glare stopped her.
"Where is he?" She asked, following the guy.
"My Lady, I am not sure how you got here, but there are various reports claiming you saved us all."
Faith sidled up just then. "Don't give B all the credit, now. She ain't the only slayer." she threw an arm around Buffy's shoulders.
"As much as I hate to admit it, Faith's right. I'm one of thirty girls here, and I can't take the credit."
"You know how to fight, and yet still modest. Is there anything you can't do?" A man beside the king asked.
"She can't keep a-oof!" Buffy gave her a generous elbow in the ribs.
"I can't get you to shut up and butt out." She said. She gave the King a smile. "Sir, there is no praise needed. I just did my job. Now, I have to go round up my girls, and blow this pop stand."
"Blow this.pop stand?"
"Leave." She sighed.
"That was just the beginning. Helm's Deep is safe, for now, but Sauron will not stop until the world of men is destroyed." Aragorn told her, coming up to them. He nodded to the king.
She sighed. "I was afraid of that." She thought about it.
"B, we're here for a reason. To save the world is a pretty good reason, me thinks."
"But this isn't our world to save, F. We have our own war to wage.The First, remember? If we don't stop it, there will be no world to go back to!"
"What's wrong with you, B? it's my job to turn my back on people in need, not yours."
"I.don't know. I feel.strange." All of a sudden, her vision was clouded by a huge, fiery eye. She swooned, and both Faith and Aragorn caught her as she fell.
"She's unconscious." Faith said.
"What would cause her to.." Aragorn felt his hands slid in something warm. Something red.
"Blood." Faith acknowledged. "Do you have some place.this is no place to.." She stumbled for words. She was in shock. The might Buffy had finally fallen. Something she had longed for for so long, and now all she could feel was.fear?
"Follow me." Theoden said. Faith took Buffy from Aragorn and bore her weight.
~ * ~
"So, you're sister fought a God?" Eowen asked, in awe. Just then, a man was at her side.
"Your uncle, his grace, bids to see you in his chamber. He asks you to bring a Lady Willow and a Lady Dawn."
"Thank you." the man was gone. "Do you know this Lady Willow?"
"Yeah, I'll go get her, one sec." She ran off and came back a few moments with the red head.
"Follow me." They followed Eowen down a corridor. "Since this is a strong hold, there are very few chambers. My uncle, being the King, has one, though." She knocked on a door, then entered.
The first and only thing Dawn saw was Buffy. Lying on the dead. Pale. Dead.
"No." she murmured. And Willow had to place a strong hand on her elbow to keep her upright.
"Hold on, squirt. She ain't dead, just unconscious. I figured she'd appreciate it if you guys knew. They," she jerked her head at Theoden and Aragorn, "want to check her over, but I figured she's wouldn't be too happy with that."
"Th-thanks."
Eowen dropped into a curtsy to Aragorn and her uncle. Mostly her uncle. She was still mad at them for not letting her help.
"Ok, you two out." Willow took charge, pointing Aragorn and Theoden towards the door. "Faith you can stay-"
"I'm out." Faith left.
"Eowen?" The king turned to his niece.
"Yes, your grace?"
"Tend to their needs." And then he and Aragorn left.
"Ok, Dawn, help me with her. Uh.Eowen? Fresh clothes? For all of us, we're all pretty grimy."
She nodded and left, and soon returned with a pile of clothes. She shook one out, and they looked at the flowing fabric.
Dawn and Willow looked from it to Buffy
~ * ~
Buffy swam in a sea of white. She was peaceful. Everything was ok. Wait, this was familiar! NO! She sat up with a start, and her bandaged side twinged with pain.
"Easy does it, now. Lay back." She did as she was told.
"Buffy?"
"Dawn?"
"You gave us all quite a scare. Your sister most of all." The man.Aragorn said.
"Don't you ever do that again."
"What happened?"
"You fainted. Then we found this gash across your ribs. Let me check it." She drew away from him.
"It's ok, Buffy. He seems to know what he's doing." She nodded at Dawn's words, and let his pull up the tunic she was wearing to see the bandages. Dawn hovered near by.
"Dawn, I'm fine. It's not like I haven't fainted before."
"Last time you fainted, it was during a fight, with Angelus, and then you almost died, but then you killed death, so it was ok." Dawn looked confused. "You didn't know then." Willow cleared up.
"Oh."
"She killed death? Is that possible?"
"Well, De Kindestod. Demon who kills sick and feverish kids. You can only see him if you have a fever." Buffy said. She looked at Aragorn, who was trying to be delicate while taking off the bandages, and taking his sweet time. If she hadn't known better, it seemed as if he was trying not to touch her skin. She figured it was a chivalry thing. "Move aside, mister." She pushed his hands away, and expertly took the bandage off. "There. You could have asked."
The wound was on her second rib, so she had to pull it up a bit farther so he could see it clearly.
"It's healing nicely." He said, with awe in his voice. She looked down at it. It was almost closed. "It was a pretty nasty wound."
"Advanced healing. Slayer perk." Buffy explained, letting the tunic fall over her stomach. "So, can I get up?" she stretched, ignoring the pain in her side. She tried to run her hands through her hair. "Ugh!" it was all knotted and grimy.
"Ok, you out, Eowen, could we get some water for Buffy to take a bath?" Willow asked shooing Aragorn out.
"Of course." She left to heat the water.
"How long have I been out?"
"A couple hours."
"Ugh." She slid out of bed. "What's going on?"
"King's gonna hold a meeting in awhile."
"Where are my clothes?" Buffy asked, looking at the long tunic.
"I'm not sure. The shirt was ripped and bloody.." Dawn looked at the dress she was wearing. "All of our clothes were pretty bad."
"Oh no. I worked really hard to get some respect form these sexist pigs, and there's no way they will respect me in one of those."
"Faith's even wearing one." Buffy choked.
"You're kidding!"
"No, She's actually wearing a dress. She cut off most of the skirt and is scandalizing even the most hardened soldier." Dawn said, giggling.
"How short?" Dawn showed her, just under three inches from where her legs met. "Ugh! Why do I always have to be the grown up?"
"You re the oldest."
"Fine. I'll wear a damn dress. But no lace, no frills, no nothing, got it?" They nodded.
Eowen came in with hot water, soap and a change of clothes for Buffy. Everyone left Buffy alone to wash and change.
She sat in the water until it cooled, reveling in the feeling of being clean. And the hot water. With 15+ girls, hot water was a miracle.
She found the dress appropriate, though a bit long. With no sleeves and a mildly restraining bodice, she could still be able to fight if need be.
She felt drained after the battle, so she did some of the Tia Chi Angel had taught her long ago, to regain some of her strength. More like to call on some reserves. She felt everything ebb away as she moved, until she was calm and collected. She centered her power and recalled it into the little box she imagined at her solar plexus; an imaging technique Giles had taught her. She secretly liked the way the dress moved when she did, something about it made her feel more feminine than the warrior she had become.
Gandalf, Aragorn and Theoden were talking, so rather than disturb them, she walked outside. Some men were training; sparing, practicing with bow and arrow; going through sword basics.
She also found that Kennedy had rounded up the girls and was running through some moves with them. They got some appreciative stares. They were continuing the back yard training thing. Buffy stopped and critiqued them all; both the men and the girls. The guys with the pointy ears and long flowing hair that talked in that strange language were the best disciplined, but her girls were a very close second.
She turned her attention to the other men, she knew they'd need her help the most. She looked down the line of archers, and the guy at the very end was shooting his all wrong. She'd never shot a bow, besides a crossbow, but her common sense told her he was doing it all wrong, and his target showed that.
"Sir, you're making some errors. Your feet need to be farther apart, so you have a wider, steadier base."
"What do you know about it?"
"It's common sense. Whether you are working with a bow or a sword. The farther apart your feet are, the more balance and stability you have. And the more accurate you are." She took his bow from him and an arrow, willing herself not to make a fool out of herself.
She took a deep breath, widened her stance, lined them up parallel to the target, knocked the arrow, and drew the bow with ease. She aimed, and fired.
By now, everyone had stopped what they were doing, and was watching the woman fire the bow. It just bearly missed the target, and some around her laughed. She took two more arrows, and in a quick concession, put both into the bull's eye, in the same place, so that the first arrow shaft was split.
"That right there, gentlemen, is a Robin Hood." She passed the bow back to him and patted his shoulder. "Feet wider, ok?" He nodded and she walked off.
"How did you learn to shoot like that?" The long, lithe blond.Legolas! That was it! asked.
"Actually, that was the first time I've shot a bow." She told him. He was shocked. "I've shot a crossbow, and a rocket launcher, but never a long bow."
"That's actually a short bow. Those are long bows, over there." He pointed to his fellows.
"Oh."
"What other weapons have you used?"
"Almost everything. I've trained with staffs, I use the crossbow regularly, stakes, swords, a rocket launcher once."
"What's that?"
"Well...it's like a bow, of sorts, but it shoots these things that blow up on impact. They're called a rocket. I used it against the Judge. He burned the humanity out of things."
"Oh. Excuse me?"
"This is the time where you just nod your head and smile." Dawn told him.
"Oh, ok."
"Dawn, don't you have someplace to be? Other than bug me, of course. Why aren't you training?"
"I don't think Kennedy knows, and I'd rather learn from the best, anyway."
"Aww." She sighed. "Go away." Dawn complied, knowing she'd get out of training. She'd watched Buffy enough to know training was no fun.
"Lady Buffy, Gimli and I were about to train. Would you like to join us?"
"Well.it depends."
"On what?" he was confused. He had seen her fight. She seemed to have not been winded after the battle. He had not heard of her nasty fall.
"If you can find me some pants. I don't fight in dresses."
"Bu-"
"I won't tell where I got them, if it's that big a deal." She pulled at the many folds of fabric. "You try it sometime! I have to concentrate enough as on not falling down when I walk!"
He grinned. "I think I could find you something."
"You're a life saver!"
~ * ~
"Much more betterer." She pronounced, looking at the tan pants. No, breeches. She reminded herself. "Thanks a lot. Let's train!"
They went outside, and she immediately found a clear spot, and began stretching. Legolas and Gimli watched in awe as she stretched. She was so flexible! Even the elves couldn't do some of the things she did!
"The lass is certainly flexible." Gimli said, a slight blush creeping up his face.
"I see why she wanted pants." Legolas said as she lifted her leg over her head, then dropped into a full split. She hopped up and did a few bridges, one after the other, cracking her back. She spun her shoulders to complete the job. She rotated her hips, and swiveled her neck as well. She also did a few stretch kicks. A few men were giving her approving looks as she stretched.
Aragorn, Gandalf and Theoden came out in the middle of her stretching.
"She has wisdom beyond her hears; she has seen much torment and death, yet still keeps a child's innocence about her." Gandalf mused.
Aragorn nodded, lost in thought. She confused him. A woman, yet a warrior; so wise in the ways of war, and yet so young; she looked so fragile, and yet had no thought for her own safety. She was not only a warrior, but a leader, capable of split second decisions, risking the lives of those in her command and her own, seemingly without remorse, and yet he had seen tears in her eyes as she identified the few fallen girls.
"So, what first?" She asked, rolling her foot over a rocking, kicking it up. She caught it with ease, before spinning and chucking it at a parapet easily fifty yards away. It hit squarely and shattered.
~ * ~
"So, Spike, kill any good girls lately?" Xander mocked.
"Sodd off."
"Simple question. Simple answer."
"No, not simple question, and you know it. It wasn't me killing those people. We both know that."
"Not you in a sense, but it was still you, literally."
"It was...excruciating, learning I had killed those people. This soul business is much worse that it was made out to be. No wonder Angel turned into a bloody poof. Ha, Captain Forehead. Impending danger, and where is he? Safe and sound in his own little town, with no worries about others. Bloody help he was."
"Spike, shut up."
"Fine. I'm gonna go check and see what's keepin' 'em. A guy could waste away, waiting for some action around here."
"We can hope, can't we?" Xander muttered. Spike ignored him.
~ * ~
Spike stepped from the stairs into the sun.
"AGH! BLOODY HELL!!" He dove back into the stairs and the shadows.
Buffy looked up from the ground, as well as the girls. Dawn came out of the hall to see what was going on. "Spike?!"
"AGH! Bollix!" he could be seen inside the dark doorway.
"What the hell are you doing here, Spike?" Buffy hissed, storming over.
"Coming to see what the hold up was."
"You can't stay here. We are fighting during the day, and we aren't staying here much longer. And no matter the change in dimension, it seems you still can't go into the light."
"I can't go back, luv. The portal's closed."
"Dawn! Get Willow!" She called. Dawn nodded and ran back inside. "What do you want to bet she can open it?"
"A lap dance? Not like I wanna stay here anyway, with every man ogling you, luv."
"What? No. They just have never seen a woman warrior, is all. Or a woman in pants." She mused.
"Uh-huh. You're luck I'm not the jealous type, luv."
"Would you stop that?" She hissed.
"What, luv?"
"That!" She sighed. "Spike, can I trust you to do something for me?"
"Of course."
"When you get back, don't let the others come through. We aren't staying here long, and I've already got to watch out for Dawn and Willow. I can't handle watching over anybody else. They'd be a liability."
"Sure, luv. Whatever you say."
"Ugh!" she seethed. He'd never learn!
~ * ~
"What's going on? What do you hear?"
"Nothing much. Only that he keeps calling her luv." That bothered Aragorn more than he cared to admit, even to himself. "She wants him to make sure nobody else comes here. She doesn't seem to happy about him calling her luv."
Then Willow and Dawn went over to the group, and Buffy ushered them into the doorway, after which she closed the door. The three women came out fifteen minutes later, and went their separate ways. Buffy came trotting up to them.
"Sorry about that. So, what first?" she asked, bouncing on her toes and flexing her arms. "I need something to do, before I bounce out of my skin."
"Sword fight?" Legolas asked, pulling out his twin swords.
"Oo! Pretty!" Buffy said, accepting one. She held it in her hand, then tried to find the center of gravity. "Not bad, not bad." She found it and balanced the sword in the side of her finger. She then tossed it up and caught it, to the relief of the others. "God, chill. I've been using swords for.." She began counting on her fingers, "six years now." She said proudly.
"Well, let's practice, then."
"Don't go easy on me. I won't go easy on you." Buffy warned.
"Fine." But he decided to go easy on her anyway. She was a woman, after all.
They circled, waiting for the other to make the first move. "Ok, is this a chivalry thing? Waiting for me to make the first move?" he nodded, concentrating. "Fine." She muttered.
She waited for awhile, trying to gauge her first move, and then she moved. She was in and out before he saw her. "Caught you sleeping." She taunted. Legolas looked confused a moment, but then hunkered down, concentrating more. "I'd say that was a dead." Buffy grinned. Legolas darted in to make a slash, but she parried and pushed his sword away. She saw the look of concentration on his face, and grinned even more. She knew that she had to rattle this guy. If he was gonna be a party pooper, then she'd have to make him loosen up a bit. This was supposed to be fun.
Loosen up? She sounded like Faith. She shuddered inwardly.
While her mind was on such dark thoughts, he took the advantage, and surprised her with an upward strike. She moved back reflexively, and blocked. He pushed his advantage, thrusting at her. She blocked each attack, but could not get a parry or thrust in anywhere. Finally, she got sick and tired, and dodged way out of the way, and came from behind him.
He blocked her stroke just in time, and she spun and slashed. He blocked and went to strike. She caught his arm, and swept his legs from under him, taking him down. She then sat on his stomach, arms and sword pinned beneath her legs, her own sword resting lightly on his neck. Then she was off and up, extending a hand to help him up. He took it and stood.
"Sorry about that. Couldn't resist not taking that opportunity." She gave him back his sword. "So, what next?" she asked, dusting off her pants.
"Why don't we show these guys what slayer strength is all about, B?"
"Last time we fought, I put you in a coma." She reminded.
"No, last time we fought, I tried to kill your mother, stole your body and had some good fun with it." She countered, grinning and biting her lip.
"oO, let's do this!" Buffy said, angered by the memory.
"No weapons?" Faith asked, raising her arms and spinning, her small dress lifting and showing more leg, if possible. Buffy saw that she seemed to be wearing bathing suit bottoms, and wondered moentairily where she got them; and why she even bothered.
"No weapons." Buffy did the same, her pants, though tight, were more modest than her fellow slayer.
"It is not a good thing to go into a fight with anger in your heart." Legolas warned, stepping towards Buffy.
"Oh, don't worry. I won't hurt her. Much." Buffy said, pushing him back. He stumbled at the force, and Aragorn caught him.
Neither could deny that they were almost looking forward to this. During the battle, each woman pulled her own weight, but at times seemed to not even try. Like it came naturally to her, while at times, they were having a hard time staying alive. Gimli wanted to know how a girl like Faith could kill 135 orcs. That took power. But how much did she really have?
They touched fists, and then stepped into fighting stances.
"Ready?" Buffy nodded. Faith launched herself at her with speed the guys had never seen before.
Then men who were pretending to train stopped. The two women had saved many of them directly, and all of them indirectly. The girls also stopped. Some were anticipating this; who would win out of the two original slayers? Others were terrified. They had heard stories about the problems between the two. Would they both play fair?
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
A/N: ok, after reading this, I think I am unintentionally going for an Aragorn/Buffy. I can't deny that I still like Angel better, but he is strong, and he is good, unlike Spike, and he's way better than Riley. Riley was just a...My sheltered brain can't think up a word that is strong enough to describe how much I *dislike* him. With a passion, of course.
A/N: opalrose81, you are not being mean or picky, that's the type of review I want exactly. Just as long as something's not like.."I hate your story. It sucks. You are an awful writer." That type of stuff is not helpful, and I am lucky to have never received anything like that. But your comments are perfect. Yes, I know that I have some spelling erros, and it doesn't help to post/write them when it's late and my brain isn't functioning on all of it's brain cells, (which is like two) so you can see the problem. Eowyn. Gotcha. I'll fix that!
And thanks for saying my story has potential. A writer's always looking forward to coments like that. I hope you enjoy the rest of this story, once I get it written!
Acacia Jules: the reason why I didn't put in the fight is because I wanted a review like yours! No, I don't know why I didn't put in the fight. I have it written, and even typed, but I'm not sure I like it. It's a bit too flashy, but then, that's ok. And the reason why Spike did not stay was because I am playing with the idea of a Buffy/Aragorn, and if Spike was there, then he'd mess everything up. And I've been given the idea of a Faith/Legolas, and I'm playing with it in my mind. They might have a night or so together, but I'm not sure if it will be anything more than Faith trying to be her old self.
And last but not least, to you all: I am soo sorry that it has taken so long to update, like all my stories! But, if you have been reading either my bio, or The Next Generation, then you will have found that I am having some difficulties. After hand writing 90+ pages, and then typing them up, it's NOT a good idea to go, "You know what? I don't like it." And then want to change it all! But that's what I'm doing! And it really doesn't put someone in a good mood!
But don't worry, I had a good thanksgiving, and after eating the last piece of Cheesecake, which was soo good, my cousin's boyfriend proposed to it (the cheesecake, not her.) But then, he's not playing with a full deck. Sadly, neither am I.
But I am in a good mood, so I am hoping to update this story ASAP, since people have been telling me, and I am so very thankful that you have been patient! I hope to have this updated by either late tonight, or early tomorrow. (think 2 a.m.!)
And, forbidding any problems with machinery, such as MICROSOFT WORD FREEZING! I hope that you will be pleased with the new installment I am almost done with! It's the fight scene, and I have sat through six and a half years of karate, so if it isn't good, then it's NOT MY FAULT!!!
Ok, the cheesecake's gone to my brain! I've gone crazy! I love all of you who are still reading! Enjoy!
~ insane blackbeltchic ~ "People say I've gone crazy. I reply, 'I had nowhere to go!'" "Oh, I have lots of friends, you just can't see them!" "I live in my own little world. But that's ok, they know me here!"
A/N: to the one question I've gotten so far: Where's Spike? I decided that I wanted Dawn to come, instead of Spike. Spike is with Xander. I just switched the two of them. Spike's blood wouldn't have opened a portal. Only Dawn's.
Oh, another thing: about pairings: I don't plan on any at all. The ending I have written has no pairings at all. I just put my fingers to the keyboard and what ever comes out I post. (or pen to paper. You know what I mean!)
Thanks for the reviews. If you have any questions, ask them. And I'll try to answer!
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"Oh, Buffy! This is Eowen!" Dawn said, seeing her sister approach.
"Hello, Lady Buffy. Lady Dawn was just telling me about the battle's you've fought." Buffy sent her sister a withering look.
"She was interested in why we were able to fight." Dawn defended.
"I am not afraid of death, just being locked into a cage until I am too old to defend myself! I can fight as well as any man here, and since I am a woman, I am not allowed to. Just because are not permitted to fight with weapons, that doesn't mean we can't die upon them."
"Exactly!"
"Lady Buffy. His Grace requires a word with you." A man appeared by her side, if she had been on edge, he would have been dead by now.
"Only one?" Dawn asked, giggling, but Buffy's glare stopped her.
"Where is he?" She asked, following the guy.
"My Lady, I am not sure how you got here, but there are various reports claiming you saved us all."
Faith sidled up just then. "Don't give B all the credit, now. She ain't the only slayer." she threw an arm around Buffy's shoulders.
"As much as I hate to admit it, Faith's right. I'm one of thirty girls here, and I can't take the credit."
"You know how to fight, and yet still modest. Is there anything you can't do?" A man beside the king asked.
"She can't keep a-oof!" Buffy gave her a generous elbow in the ribs.
"I can't get you to shut up and butt out." She said. She gave the King a smile. "Sir, there is no praise needed. I just did my job. Now, I have to go round up my girls, and blow this pop stand."
"Blow this.pop stand?"
"Leave." She sighed.
"That was just the beginning. Helm's Deep is safe, for now, but Sauron will not stop until the world of men is destroyed." Aragorn told her, coming up to them. He nodded to the king.
She sighed. "I was afraid of that." She thought about it.
"B, we're here for a reason. To save the world is a pretty good reason, me thinks."
"But this isn't our world to save, F. We have our own war to wage.The First, remember? If we don't stop it, there will be no world to go back to!"
"What's wrong with you, B? it's my job to turn my back on people in need, not yours."
"I.don't know. I feel.strange." All of a sudden, her vision was clouded by a huge, fiery eye. She swooned, and both Faith and Aragorn caught her as she fell.
"She's unconscious." Faith said.
"What would cause her to.." Aragorn felt his hands slid in something warm. Something red.
"Blood." Faith acknowledged. "Do you have some place.this is no place to.." She stumbled for words. She was in shock. The might Buffy had finally fallen. Something she had longed for for so long, and now all she could feel was.fear?
"Follow me." Theoden said. Faith took Buffy from Aragorn and bore her weight.
~ * ~
"So, you're sister fought a God?" Eowen asked, in awe. Just then, a man was at her side.
"Your uncle, his grace, bids to see you in his chamber. He asks you to bring a Lady Willow and a Lady Dawn."
"Thank you." the man was gone. "Do you know this Lady Willow?"
"Yeah, I'll go get her, one sec." She ran off and came back a few moments with the red head.
"Follow me." They followed Eowen down a corridor. "Since this is a strong hold, there are very few chambers. My uncle, being the King, has one, though." She knocked on a door, then entered.
The first and only thing Dawn saw was Buffy. Lying on the dead. Pale. Dead.
"No." she murmured. And Willow had to place a strong hand on her elbow to keep her upright.
"Hold on, squirt. She ain't dead, just unconscious. I figured she'd appreciate it if you guys knew. They," she jerked her head at Theoden and Aragorn, "want to check her over, but I figured she's wouldn't be too happy with that."
"Th-thanks."
Eowen dropped into a curtsy to Aragorn and her uncle. Mostly her uncle. She was still mad at them for not letting her help.
"Ok, you two out." Willow took charge, pointing Aragorn and Theoden towards the door. "Faith you can stay-"
"I'm out." Faith left.
"Eowen?" The king turned to his niece.
"Yes, your grace?"
"Tend to their needs." And then he and Aragorn left.
"Ok, Dawn, help me with her. Uh.Eowen? Fresh clothes? For all of us, we're all pretty grimy."
She nodded and left, and soon returned with a pile of clothes. She shook one out, and they looked at the flowing fabric.
Dawn and Willow looked from it to Buffy
~ * ~
Buffy swam in a sea of white. She was peaceful. Everything was ok. Wait, this was familiar! NO! She sat up with a start, and her bandaged side twinged with pain.
"Easy does it, now. Lay back." She did as she was told.
"Buffy?"
"Dawn?"
"You gave us all quite a scare. Your sister most of all." The man.Aragorn said.
"Don't you ever do that again."
"What happened?"
"You fainted. Then we found this gash across your ribs. Let me check it." She drew away from him.
"It's ok, Buffy. He seems to know what he's doing." She nodded at Dawn's words, and let his pull up the tunic she was wearing to see the bandages. Dawn hovered near by.
"Dawn, I'm fine. It's not like I haven't fainted before."
"Last time you fainted, it was during a fight, with Angelus, and then you almost died, but then you killed death, so it was ok." Dawn looked confused. "You didn't know then." Willow cleared up.
"Oh."
"She killed death? Is that possible?"
"Well, De Kindestod. Demon who kills sick and feverish kids. You can only see him if you have a fever." Buffy said. She looked at Aragorn, who was trying to be delicate while taking off the bandages, and taking his sweet time. If she hadn't known better, it seemed as if he was trying not to touch her skin. She figured it was a chivalry thing. "Move aside, mister." She pushed his hands away, and expertly took the bandage off. "There. You could have asked."
The wound was on her second rib, so she had to pull it up a bit farther so he could see it clearly.
"It's healing nicely." He said, with awe in his voice. She looked down at it. It was almost closed. "It was a pretty nasty wound."
"Advanced healing. Slayer perk." Buffy explained, letting the tunic fall over her stomach. "So, can I get up?" she stretched, ignoring the pain in her side. She tried to run her hands through her hair. "Ugh!" it was all knotted and grimy.
"Ok, you out, Eowen, could we get some water for Buffy to take a bath?" Willow asked shooing Aragorn out.
"Of course." She left to heat the water.
"How long have I been out?"
"A couple hours."
"Ugh." She slid out of bed. "What's going on?"
"King's gonna hold a meeting in awhile."
"Where are my clothes?" Buffy asked, looking at the long tunic.
"I'm not sure. The shirt was ripped and bloody.." Dawn looked at the dress she was wearing. "All of our clothes were pretty bad."
"Oh no. I worked really hard to get some respect form these sexist pigs, and there's no way they will respect me in one of those."
"Faith's even wearing one." Buffy choked.
"You're kidding!"
"No, She's actually wearing a dress. She cut off most of the skirt and is scandalizing even the most hardened soldier." Dawn said, giggling.
"How short?" Dawn showed her, just under three inches from where her legs met. "Ugh! Why do I always have to be the grown up?"
"You re the oldest."
"Fine. I'll wear a damn dress. But no lace, no frills, no nothing, got it?" They nodded.
Eowen came in with hot water, soap and a change of clothes for Buffy. Everyone left Buffy alone to wash and change.
She sat in the water until it cooled, reveling in the feeling of being clean. And the hot water. With 15+ girls, hot water was a miracle.
She found the dress appropriate, though a bit long. With no sleeves and a mildly restraining bodice, she could still be able to fight if need be.
She felt drained after the battle, so she did some of the Tia Chi Angel had taught her long ago, to regain some of her strength. More like to call on some reserves. She felt everything ebb away as she moved, until she was calm and collected. She centered her power and recalled it into the little box she imagined at her solar plexus; an imaging technique Giles had taught her. She secretly liked the way the dress moved when she did, something about it made her feel more feminine than the warrior she had become.
Gandalf, Aragorn and Theoden were talking, so rather than disturb them, she walked outside. Some men were training; sparing, practicing with bow and arrow; going through sword basics.
She also found that Kennedy had rounded up the girls and was running through some moves with them. They got some appreciative stares. They were continuing the back yard training thing. Buffy stopped and critiqued them all; both the men and the girls. The guys with the pointy ears and long flowing hair that talked in that strange language were the best disciplined, but her girls were a very close second.
She turned her attention to the other men, she knew they'd need her help the most. She looked down the line of archers, and the guy at the very end was shooting his all wrong. She'd never shot a bow, besides a crossbow, but her common sense told her he was doing it all wrong, and his target showed that.
"Sir, you're making some errors. Your feet need to be farther apart, so you have a wider, steadier base."
"What do you know about it?"
"It's common sense. Whether you are working with a bow or a sword. The farther apart your feet are, the more balance and stability you have. And the more accurate you are." She took his bow from him and an arrow, willing herself not to make a fool out of herself.
She took a deep breath, widened her stance, lined them up parallel to the target, knocked the arrow, and drew the bow with ease. She aimed, and fired.
By now, everyone had stopped what they were doing, and was watching the woman fire the bow. It just bearly missed the target, and some around her laughed. She took two more arrows, and in a quick concession, put both into the bull's eye, in the same place, so that the first arrow shaft was split.
"That right there, gentlemen, is a Robin Hood." She passed the bow back to him and patted his shoulder. "Feet wider, ok?" He nodded and she walked off.
"How did you learn to shoot like that?" The long, lithe blond.Legolas! That was it! asked.
"Actually, that was the first time I've shot a bow." She told him. He was shocked. "I've shot a crossbow, and a rocket launcher, but never a long bow."
"That's actually a short bow. Those are long bows, over there." He pointed to his fellows.
"Oh."
"What other weapons have you used?"
"Almost everything. I've trained with staffs, I use the crossbow regularly, stakes, swords, a rocket launcher once."
"What's that?"
"Well...it's like a bow, of sorts, but it shoots these things that blow up on impact. They're called a rocket. I used it against the Judge. He burned the humanity out of things."
"Oh. Excuse me?"
"This is the time where you just nod your head and smile." Dawn told him.
"Oh, ok."
"Dawn, don't you have someplace to be? Other than bug me, of course. Why aren't you training?"
"I don't think Kennedy knows, and I'd rather learn from the best, anyway."
"Aww." She sighed. "Go away." Dawn complied, knowing she'd get out of training. She'd watched Buffy enough to know training was no fun.
"Lady Buffy, Gimli and I were about to train. Would you like to join us?"
"Well.it depends."
"On what?" he was confused. He had seen her fight. She seemed to have not been winded after the battle. He had not heard of her nasty fall.
"If you can find me some pants. I don't fight in dresses."
"Bu-"
"I won't tell where I got them, if it's that big a deal." She pulled at the many folds of fabric. "You try it sometime! I have to concentrate enough as on not falling down when I walk!"
He grinned. "I think I could find you something."
"You're a life saver!"
~ * ~
"Much more betterer." She pronounced, looking at the tan pants. No, breeches. She reminded herself. "Thanks a lot. Let's train!"
They went outside, and she immediately found a clear spot, and began stretching. Legolas and Gimli watched in awe as she stretched. She was so flexible! Even the elves couldn't do some of the things she did!
"The lass is certainly flexible." Gimli said, a slight blush creeping up his face.
"I see why she wanted pants." Legolas said as she lifted her leg over her head, then dropped into a full split. She hopped up and did a few bridges, one after the other, cracking her back. She spun her shoulders to complete the job. She rotated her hips, and swiveled her neck as well. She also did a few stretch kicks. A few men were giving her approving looks as she stretched.
Aragorn, Gandalf and Theoden came out in the middle of her stretching.
"She has wisdom beyond her hears; she has seen much torment and death, yet still keeps a child's innocence about her." Gandalf mused.
Aragorn nodded, lost in thought. She confused him. A woman, yet a warrior; so wise in the ways of war, and yet so young; she looked so fragile, and yet had no thought for her own safety. She was not only a warrior, but a leader, capable of split second decisions, risking the lives of those in her command and her own, seemingly without remorse, and yet he had seen tears in her eyes as she identified the few fallen girls.
"So, what first?" She asked, rolling her foot over a rocking, kicking it up. She caught it with ease, before spinning and chucking it at a parapet easily fifty yards away. It hit squarely and shattered.
~ * ~
"So, Spike, kill any good girls lately?" Xander mocked.
"Sodd off."
"Simple question. Simple answer."
"No, not simple question, and you know it. It wasn't me killing those people. We both know that."
"Not you in a sense, but it was still you, literally."
"It was...excruciating, learning I had killed those people. This soul business is much worse that it was made out to be. No wonder Angel turned into a bloody poof. Ha, Captain Forehead. Impending danger, and where is he? Safe and sound in his own little town, with no worries about others. Bloody help he was."
"Spike, shut up."
"Fine. I'm gonna go check and see what's keepin' 'em. A guy could waste away, waiting for some action around here."
"We can hope, can't we?" Xander muttered. Spike ignored him.
~ * ~
Spike stepped from the stairs into the sun.
"AGH! BLOODY HELL!!" He dove back into the stairs and the shadows.
Buffy looked up from the ground, as well as the girls. Dawn came out of the hall to see what was going on. "Spike?!"
"AGH! Bollix!" he could be seen inside the dark doorway.
"What the hell are you doing here, Spike?" Buffy hissed, storming over.
"Coming to see what the hold up was."
"You can't stay here. We are fighting during the day, and we aren't staying here much longer. And no matter the change in dimension, it seems you still can't go into the light."
"I can't go back, luv. The portal's closed."
"Dawn! Get Willow!" She called. Dawn nodded and ran back inside. "What do you want to bet she can open it?"
"A lap dance? Not like I wanna stay here anyway, with every man ogling you, luv."
"What? No. They just have never seen a woman warrior, is all. Or a woman in pants." She mused.
"Uh-huh. You're luck I'm not the jealous type, luv."
"Would you stop that?" She hissed.
"What, luv?"
"That!" She sighed. "Spike, can I trust you to do something for me?"
"Of course."
"When you get back, don't let the others come through. We aren't staying here long, and I've already got to watch out for Dawn and Willow. I can't handle watching over anybody else. They'd be a liability."
"Sure, luv. Whatever you say."
"Ugh!" she seethed. He'd never learn!
~ * ~
"What's going on? What do you hear?"
"Nothing much. Only that he keeps calling her luv." That bothered Aragorn more than he cared to admit, even to himself. "She wants him to make sure nobody else comes here. She doesn't seem to happy about him calling her luv."
Then Willow and Dawn went over to the group, and Buffy ushered them into the doorway, after which she closed the door. The three women came out fifteen minutes later, and went their separate ways. Buffy came trotting up to them.
"Sorry about that. So, what first?" she asked, bouncing on her toes and flexing her arms. "I need something to do, before I bounce out of my skin."
"Sword fight?" Legolas asked, pulling out his twin swords.
"Oo! Pretty!" Buffy said, accepting one. She held it in her hand, then tried to find the center of gravity. "Not bad, not bad." She found it and balanced the sword in the side of her finger. She then tossed it up and caught it, to the relief of the others. "God, chill. I've been using swords for.." She began counting on her fingers, "six years now." She said proudly.
"Well, let's practice, then."
"Don't go easy on me. I won't go easy on you." Buffy warned.
"Fine." But he decided to go easy on her anyway. She was a woman, after all.
They circled, waiting for the other to make the first move. "Ok, is this a chivalry thing? Waiting for me to make the first move?" he nodded, concentrating. "Fine." She muttered.
She waited for awhile, trying to gauge her first move, and then she moved. She was in and out before he saw her. "Caught you sleeping." She taunted. Legolas looked confused a moment, but then hunkered down, concentrating more. "I'd say that was a dead." Buffy grinned. Legolas darted in to make a slash, but she parried and pushed his sword away. She saw the look of concentration on his face, and grinned even more. She knew that she had to rattle this guy. If he was gonna be a party pooper, then she'd have to make him loosen up a bit. This was supposed to be fun.
Loosen up? She sounded like Faith. She shuddered inwardly.
While her mind was on such dark thoughts, he took the advantage, and surprised her with an upward strike. She moved back reflexively, and blocked. He pushed his advantage, thrusting at her. She blocked each attack, but could not get a parry or thrust in anywhere. Finally, she got sick and tired, and dodged way out of the way, and came from behind him.
He blocked her stroke just in time, and she spun and slashed. He blocked and went to strike. She caught his arm, and swept his legs from under him, taking him down. She then sat on his stomach, arms and sword pinned beneath her legs, her own sword resting lightly on his neck. Then she was off and up, extending a hand to help him up. He took it and stood.
"Sorry about that. Couldn't resist not taking that opportunity." She gave him back his sword. "So, what next?" she asked, dusting off her pants.
"Why don't we show these guys what slayer strength is all about, B?"
"Last time we fought, I put you in a coma." She reminded.
"No, last time we fought, I tried to kill your mother, stole your body and had some good fun with it." She countered, grinning and biting her lip.
"oO, let's do this!" Buffy said, angered by the memory.
"No weapons?" Faith asked, raising her arms and spinning, her small dress lifting and showing more leg, if possible. Buffy saw that she seemed to be wearing bathing suit bottoms, and wondered moentairily where she got them; and why she even bothered.
"No weapons." Buffy did the same, her pants, though tight, were more modest than her fellow slayer.
"It is not a good thing to go into a fight with anger in your heart." Legolas warned, stepping towards Buffy.
"Oh, don't worry. I won't hurt her. Much." Buffy said, pushing him back. He stumbled at the force, and Aragorn caught him.
Neither could deny that they were almost looking forward to this. During the battle, each woman pulled her own weight, but at times seemed to not even try. Like it came naturally to her, while at times, they were having a hard time staying alive. Gimli wanted to know how a girl like Faith could kill 135 orcs. That took power. But how much did she really have?
They touched fists, and then stepped into fighting stances.
"Ready?" Buffy nodded. Faith launched herself at her with speed the guys had never seen before.
Then men who were pretending to train stopped. The two women had saved many of them directly, and all of them indirectly. The girls also stopped. Some were anticipating this; who would win out of the two original slayers? Others were terrified. They had heard stories about the problems between the two. Would they both play fair?
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
A/N: ok, after reading this, I think I am unintentionally going for an Aragorn/Buffy. I can't deny that I still like Angel better, but he is strong, and he is good, unlike Spike, and he's way better than Riley. Riley was just a...My sheltered brain can't think up a word that is strong enough to describe how much I *dislike* him. With a passion, of course.
A/N: opalrose81, you are not being mean or picky, that's the type of review I want exactly. Just as long as something's not like.."I hate your story. It sucks. You are an awful writer." That type of stuff is not helpful, and I am lucky to have never received anything like that. But your comments are perfect. Yes, I know that I have some spelling erros, and it doesn't help to post/write them when it's late and my brain isn't functioning on all of it's brain cells, (which is like two) so you can see the problem. Eowyn. Gotcha. I'll fix that!
And thanks for saying my story has potential. A writer's always looking forward to coments like that. I hope you enjoy the rest of this story, once I get it written!
Acacia Jules: the reason why I didn't put in the fight is because I wanted a review like yours! No, I don't know why I didn't put in the fight. I have it written, and even typed, but I'm not sure I like it. It's a bit too flashy, but then, that's ok. And the reason why Spike did not stay was because I am playing with the idea of a Buffy/Aragorn, and if Spike was there, then he'd mess everything up. And I've been given the idea of a Faith/Legolas, and I'm playing with it in my mind. They might have a night or so together, but I'm not sure if it will be anything more than Faith trying to be her old self.
And last but not least, to you all: I am soo sorry that it has taken so long to update, like all my stories! But, if you have been reading either my bio, or The Next Generation, then you will have found that I am having some difficulties. After hand writing 90+ pages, and then typing them up, it's NOT a good idea to go, "You know what? I don't like it." And then want to change it all! But that's what I'm doing! And it really doesn't put someone in a good mood!
But don't worry, I had a good thanksgiving, and after eating the last piece of Cheesecake, which was soo good, my cousin's boyfriend proposed to it (the cheesecake, not her.) But then, he's not playing with a full deck. Sadly, neither am I.
But I am in a good mood, so I am hoping to update this story ASAP, since people have been telling me, and I am so very thankful that you have been patient! I hope to have this updated by either late tonight, or early tomorrow. (think 2 a.m.!)
And, forbidding any problems with machinery, such as MICROSOFT WORD FREEZING! I hope that you will be pleased with the new installment I am almost done with! It's the fight scene, and I have sat through six and a half years of karate, so if it isn't good, then it's NOT MY FAULT!!!
Ok, the cheesecake's gone to my brain! I've gone crazy! I love all of you who are still reading! Enjoy!
~ insane blackbeltchic ~ "People say I've gone crazy. I reply, 'I had nowhere to go!'" "Oh, I have lots of friends, you just can't see them!" "I live in my own little world. But that's ok, they know me here!"