Faith began with a punch to the face, which Buffy easily blocked. They bot
knew how to play the crowd. And Buffy knew that if Faith really wanted to
hit her, she would. They went back and forth, taking turns blocking and
punching, adding an occasional kick.
"ready to kick it up a notch?" Faith asked. Buffy gave her a nod, quick and discrete, and Faith punched her in the face, sending her reeling backwards. Faith pushed her advantage, and Buffy let her for a moment, before dropping and sweeping her legs from under her. She then did a back flip over Faith. She landed, and Faith was up. Buffy backed Faith up to the wall, and began pummeling her. Faith ducked a punch, causing Buffy to leave a nice hole in the wall. Faith punched her in the midsection a few times. Buffy back hand sprung away from her and the wall, kicking her as she went. Faith followed her with a back flip wheel kick. Buffy tucked and rolled beneath her, and came up behind her. She sent a sweeping axe kick towards the base of Faith's neck. Faith spun, and caught the brunt of the kick on her shoulder. She took a hold of the leg, and threw it back at Buffy. Buffy used the momentum and did a back flip, stepping into a fighting stance. Faith did a 540 towards Buffy, but the 1 and a half rotation, spin jump kick was easy to block.
Buffy nodded her head towards the crowd on their left, before grabbing Faith's shirt and started spinning her in a circle. She released her at the right angel so that she flew towards the crowd. They moved out of her way. Buffy was upon Faith in an instant, sitting on the other slayer's stomach just like she had Legolas, and started hitting her. Faith bucked her hips, making Buffy fall forwards, and she caught one arm, pulling in tight to her chest. She slid her foot behind Buffy's opposite leg than the caught arm, and pushed with her leg, pulled with her arm. Now Faith was in the position of power.
Yet, Faith had on purpose let go of Buffy's arm, and she found herself lying on her back, while Buffy placed her feet on one side, and sat down. Her right arm was in between Buffy's legs, pulled across her hip. If Buffy pulled on the trapped, arm, it would snap.
Faith threw her legs up and did a backward summersault, despite Buffy's hold, and Buffy had to let go.
They were up on their feet, and ready to go. Faith grabbed Buffy, and smashed her head against the wall. By now, both were breathing hard. Buffy nodded, and they began to kick and punch once more.
After a few minutes, Faith nodded. Buffy spun and back fisted her in the face. Then she found a knife to her throat, at the same time, Faith found one at her's. Buffy pushed Faith away, and they both stumbled back into a fighters stance.
As one, they bowed to each other, turned and walked away. They walked side by side into the hall. When they passed Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas and the rest, Faith slid the back of her hand down Legolas's cheek.
~ * ~
"That was a blast!" Faith hooted, flopping down onto the makeshift bed in the room Buffy, her, Dawn and Willow had been given for the day, until Buffy left, and then they'd be on their own.
"I know! We scared the lot of them!" Buffy laughed. She was personally glad that the night before they had gone through the portal, they had talked things over. Everything. They still weren't friends, but they were on their way.
"We had them on the edge of their seats! Ha!" You're pretty damn good at acting, B. That being angry, wow. I was almost quaking in my dress."
"Your non existent dress. And that wasn't totally acting. I am mad about how you tried to kill mom. But I'll move on, eventually." She rubbed her head. "You could have gone a little lighter, though."
"But then it would have looked fake. And you weren't a light weight either." She crossed her arms to crack her shoulder.
"You started it, though." Just then there was a knock on the door. "Epp!" they both said, then laughed.
"Come in!" Buffy said, trying to school her face into one of poise.
"We just wanted to see if you two were ok, but it seems you are." Aragorn said, with Legolas and Gimli right behind him. The concerned look on his face made Faith laugh even harder. She snorted, and Buffy, trying to keep a straight face, couldn't anymore. She burst out laughing.
"Wow, have you guys been smoking something?" Dawn said from the hall, pushing her way through the three guys to get into the room. Buffy just threw a pillow at her. She threw it back. "So, you guys have made up, right? No more trying to kill each other?" Dawn asked hopefully, remembering all too well what she had been put through.
"Well, I don't know about that, squirt. Trying to kill B's fun."
"Just as long as you don't succeed." Buffy said good naturedly. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli looked to one another, confused.
"Ok, guys. Enough." Faith started tickling her. "STOP! It was fun, but no tickling. Aragorn, when are we leaving?"
"Dusk."
"You're leaving?" Dawn asked, crushed. She was finally getting some attention, and now they were leaving again.
"Dawnie, I have to. But I'll meet you in..Edoras. That's it. And Faith's staying here, and Will. And all the others."
"Just as long as you don't die again. I could never forgive you."
"We aren't going to fight, we are going to parley." Aragorn said, to sooth Dawn.
"See? I won't be slaying, unless someone gives me lip. Ok?"
"Yeah." Dawn smiled.
"Good. So, is there food somewhere? Cuz I'm starved."
"I told you, fighting makes you hungry and ho-"
"That's enough out of you!" Buffy clamped her hand around Faith's mouth.
"There's food in the Great Hall."
"Good!"
~ * ~
In the afternoon, the King's company prepared to depart. The work of burial was then but beginning; and Theoden mourned for the loss of Hama, his captain, and was the first to cast earth upon his grave.
The sun was already setting when at last they were ready to depart. A great many people, the women and children form the caves, and those who were staying behind came to see them off. They had some trouble at first, going into the wood, neither man nor horse wanted to enter. Yet, Gandalf and Shadowfax went forward leading the company, and Buffy was right behind him. She had never really ridden a horse before, for such a long journey, and inside she was just as afraid of the wood as everyone else, but she did not convey that fear to her horse, or show it to the other riders. Inside the woods, no living creature besides the riders could be seen; none of the orcs that had run in and met their doom.
Legolas and Gimli were riding on one horse, and they kept close behind Gandalf and Buffy. Gimli was afraid of the wood, while Legolas was scared, but more curious.
"it is hot in here." Legolas told Gandalf. "I feel a great wrath about me. Do you not feel the air throb in your ears?"
"Yes." Gandalf replied. Buffy, unbeknownst to the presence before, concentrated, and she also felt the presence.
"What happened to the orcs?" She asked.
"That, I think, no one will ever know." Gandalf replied.
"Fine, cryptic guy." She muttered. Legolas hid a smile.
They rode on in silence, but both Legolas and Buffy were ever looking around, both for different reasons. Legolas would have liked to stop, but he feared Gimli would mind.
"These are the strangest trees that I ever saw." He said. "and I have seen many an oak grow from acorn to ruinous age. I wish that there were leisure now to walk among them; they have voices, and in time I might come to understand their thought."
"NO!" Gimli cried. "Let us leave them! I guess their thought already: hatred of all that go on two legs; and their speech is of crushing and strangling."
"no. I know hatred. This isn't it." Buffy commented.
"She's right. Not of all that go on two legs. There I think you are wrong. It is orcs that they hate. For they do not belong here and know little of Elves and Men. Far away are the valleys where they sprang. From deep dales of Fangorn, Gimli, that is where they come, I guess."
"How do you know so much?" Buffy asked.
"I have learned much in my life." So have I, and I don't know half as much as you do. And what's with the pointy ears? That's been bugging me all day."
"I am an elf. Elves are immortal."
"oh.. What are you, Gimli?"
"A dwarf. I seriously thought you knew, lassie, or I would have told ye."
"And Aragorn?"
"Human."
"Ah. Ok."
"Fangorn is the most perilous wood in Middle Earth. I should be grateful for the part they have played, but I do not love for them. You may think them wonderful, but I have seen a greater wonder in this land, more beautiful than any grove of glade that ever grew: my heart is still full of it." Buffy giggled.
"Strange are the ways of men, Legolas! Here they have one of the marvels of the Northern World, and what do they say of it? Caves they say! Caves! Holes to fly to in time of war, to store fodder in! My good Legolas, do you know that the caverns of Helm's deep are vast and beautiful? There would be an endless pilgrimage of dwarves, merely to gaze at them, if such things were known to be. Aye indeed, they would pay pure gold for a brief glance!"
"And I would give gold to be excused. And double to be let out, if I strayed in!"
"You have not seen, so I forgive your jest. But you speak like a fool. Do you think those halls are fair, where your king dwells under the hill in Mirkwood, and dwarves helped in their making long ago? They are but hovels compared with the caverns I have seen here: immeasurable halls, filled with an everlasting music of water that tinkles into pools, as fair as Kheled_zaram in the starlight."
"ugh." Buffy shuddered.
"What is wrong, lady Buffy? Are you cold?"
"No. I don't like caves in particular. Especially ones with water on the walls, and moss. And a pool on the floor. Ugh!"
"Why such feelings about such beauty?" Gimli demanded.
"When that's where you went to meet your fate, and you died, it's not full of fond memories. I'm sorry, but could we cut down on the cave talk? I find caves scary. Not for the cave itself, or the dark, but what lurks in the dark."
"But with torches! Ah! When torches are kindled and men walk on the sandy floors under the echoing domes! There are columns of white and saffron and dawn rose, Legolas, fluted and twisted into dreamlike forms, they spring up from many colored floors to meet the glistening pendants of the roof: wings, ropes, curtains fine as frozen clouds; spears, banners, pinnacles of suspended palaces! Still lakes mirror them, a glimmering world looks up from dark pools covered with clear glass."
"You move me Gimli, I have never heard you speak like this before. Almost you make me regret that I have not seen these caves. Come! Let us make this bargain- if we both return safe out of the perils that await us, we will journey for awhile together. You shall visit Fangorn with me, and then I will come with you to see Helm's Deep."
"That would not be the way of return that I should choose. But I would endure Fangorn, if I have your promise to come back to he caves and share their wonders with me."
"You have my promise."
"I'd like to see these things too, if you don't mind."
"The more the merrier, Lady Buffy. But alas, now we must leave behind both cave and wood for awhile. See" We are coming to the end of the trees. How far is it to Isengaurd, Gandalf?"
"About fifteen leagues as the crows of Saruman make it. Five from the mouth of deeping-coomb to the fords, and ten more from there to the gates of Isengaurd. But we shall not ride all the way this night."
"Good." Buffy muttered. Her backside was already beginning to hurt.
"And when we come there, what shall we see? You may know, but I cannot guess."
"I do not know myself for certain." Answered the wizard. "I was there at nightfall yesterday, but much may have happened since. Yet I think that you will not say that the journey was in vain- not though the Glittering Caves of Aglarond be left behind." ~ * ~ A/N: Told you! It's now. . . . .10:57 p.m., on November 29, 2003, and this part is done! Finally!
Sorry that it's sorta short, but it took a long time to type this all, since it came directly from the book, most of it anyway! Don't mean to plagiarize! I give all credit where credit is due, and major credit is due to J. R. R. Tolkein, who would be . . . . . 112, in 2004. Did you know what we share the same B-day? But he's like . . . . . . Well, 112 minus 16 is. . . . . . .Where's the calculator? . . . . . . . . 96! That's it! He's 96 years older than me.
That's old. . . . . .
"ready to kick it up a notch?" Faith asked. Buffy gave her a nod, quick and discrete, and Faith punched her in the face, sending her reeling backwards. Faith pushed her advantage, and Buffy let her for a moment, before dropping and sweeping her legs from under her. She then did a back flip over Faith. She landed, and Faith was up. Buffy backed Faith up to the wall, and began pummeling her. Faith ducked a punch, causing Buffy to leave a nice hole in the wall. Faith punched her in the midsection a few times. Buffy back hand sprung away from her and the wall, kicking her as she went. Faith followed her with a back flip wheel kick. Buffy tucked and rolled beneath her, and came up behind her. She sent a sweeping axe kick towards the base of Faith's neck. Faith spun, and caught the brunt of the kick on her shoulder. She took a hold of the leg, and threw it back at Buffy. Buffy used the momentum and did a back flip, stepping into a fighting stance. Faith did a 540 towards Buffy, but the 1 and a half rotation, spin jump kick was easy to block.
Buffy nodded her head towards the crowd on their left, before grabbing Faith's shirt and started spinning her in a circle. She released her at the right angel so that she flew towards the crowd. They moved out of her way. Buffy was upon Faith in an instant, sitting on the other slayer's stomach just like she had Legolas, and started hitting her. Faith bucked her hips, making Buffy fall forwards, and she caught one arm, pulling in tight to her chest. She slid her foot behind Buffy's opposite leg than the caught arm, and pushed with her leg, pulled with her arm. Now Faith was in the position of power.
Yet, Faith had on purpose let go of Buffy's arm, and she found herself lying on her back, while Buffy placed her feet on one side, and sat down. Her right arm was in between Buffy's legs, pulled across her hip. If Buffy pulled on the trapped, arm, it would snap.
Faith threw her legs up and did a backward summersault, despite Buffy's hold, and Buffy had to let go.
They were up on their feet, and ready to go. Faith grabbed Buffy, and smashed her head against the wall. By now, both were breathing hard. Buffy nodded, and they began to kick and punch once more.
After a few minutes, Faith nodded. Buffy spun and back fisted her in the face. Then she found a knife to her throat, at the same time, Faith found one at her's. Buffy pushed Faith away, and they both stumbled back into a fighters stance.
As one, they bowed to each other, turned and walked away. They walked side by side into the hall. When they passed Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas and the rest, Faith slid the back of her hand down Legolas's cheek.
~ * ~
"That was a blast!" Faith hooted, flopping down onto the makeshift bed in the room Buffy, her, Dawn and Willow had been given for the day, until Buffy left, and then they'd be on their own.
"I know! We scared the lot of them!" Buffy laughed. She was personally glad that the night before they had gone through the portal, they had talked things over. Everything. They still weren't friends, but they were on their way.
"We had them on the edge of their seats! Ha!" You're pretty damn good at acting, B. That being angry, wow. I was almost quaking in my dress."
"Your non existent dress. And that wasn't totally acting. I am mad about how you tried to kill mom. But I'll move on, eventually." She rubbed her head. "You could have gone a little lighter, though."
"But then it would have looked fake. And you weren't a light weight either." She crossed her arms to crack her shoulder.
"You started it, though." Just then there was a knock on the door. "Epp!" they both said, then laughed.
"Come in!" Buffy said, trying to school her face into one of poise.
"We just wanted to see if you two were ok, but it seems you are." Aragorn said, with Legolas and Gimli right behind him. The concerned look on his face made Faith laugh even harder. She snorted, and Buffy, trying to keep a straight face, couldn't anymore. She burst out laughing.
"Wow, have you guys been smoking something?" Dawn said from the hall, pushing her way through the three guys to get into the room. Buffy just threw a pillow at her. She threw it back. "So, you guys have made up, right? No more trying to kill each other?" Dawn asked hopefully, remembering all too well what she had been put through.
"Well, I don't know about that, squirt. Trying to kill B's fun."
"Just as long as you don't succeed." Buffy said good naturedly. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli looked to one another, confused.
"Ok, guys. Enough." Faith started tickling her. "STOP! It was fun, but no tickling. Aragorn, when are we leaving?"
"Dusk."
"You're leaving?" Dawn asked, crushed. She was finally getting some attention, and now they were leaving again.
"Dawnie, I have to. But I'll meet you in..Edoras. That's it. And Faith's staying here, and Will. And all the others."
"Just as long as you don't die again. I could never forgive you."
"We aren't going to fight, we are going to parley." Aragorn said, to sooth Dawn.
"See? I won't be slaying, unless someone gives me lip. Ok?"
"Yeah." Dawn smiled.
"Good. So, is there food somewhere? Cuz I'm starved."
"I told you, fighting makes you hungry and ho-"
"That's enough out of you!" Buffy clamped her hand around Faith's mouth.
"There's food in the Great Hall."
"Good!"
~ * ~
In the afternoon, the King's company prepared to depart. The work of burial was then but beginning; and Theoden mourned for the loss of Hama, his captain, and was the first to cast earth upon his grave.
The sun was already setting when at last they were ready to depart. A great many people, the women and children form the caves, and those who were staying behind came to see them off. They had some trouble at first, going into the wood, neither man nor horse wanted to enter. Yet, Gandalf and Shadowfax went forward leading the company, and Buffy was right behind him. She had never really ridden a horse before, for such a long journey, and inside she was just as afraid of the wood as everyone else, but she did not convey that fear to her horse, or show it to the other riders. Inside the woods, no living creature besides the riders could be seen; none of the orcs that had run in and met their doom.
Legolas and Gimli were riding on one horse, and they kept close behind Gandalf and Buffy. Gimli was afraid of the wood, while Legolas was scared, but more curious.
"it is hot in here." Legolas told Gandalf. "I feel a great wrath about me. Do you not feel the air throb in your ears?"
"Yes." Gandalf replied. Buffy, unbeknownst to the presence before, concentrated, and she also felt the presence.
"What happened to the orcs?" She asked.
"That, I think, no one will ever know." Gandalf replied.
"Fine, cryptic guy." She muttered. Legolas hid a smile.
They rode on in silence, but both Legolas and Buffy were ever looking around, both for different reasons. Legolas would have liked to stop, but he feared Gimli would mind.
"These are the strangest trees that I ever saw." He said. "and I have seen many an oak grow from acorn to ruinous age. I wish that there were leisure now to walk among them; they have voices, and in time I might come to understand their thought."
"NO!" Gimli cried. "Let us leave them! I guess their thought already: hatred of all that go on two legs; and their speech is of crushing and strangling."
"no. I know hatred. This isn't it." Buffy commented.
"She's right. Not of all that go on two legs. There I think you are wrong. It is orcs that they hate. For they do not belong here and know little of Elves and Men. Far away are the valleys where they sprang. From deep dales of Fangorn, Gimli, that is where they come, I guess."
"How do you know so much?" Buffy asked.
"I have learned much in my life." So have I, and I don't know half as much as you do. And what's with the pointy ears? That's been bugging me all day."
"I am an elf. Elves are immortal."
"oh.. What are you, Gimli?"
"A dwarf. I seriously thought you knew, lassie, or I would have told ye."
"And Aragorn?"
"Human."
"Ah. Ok."
"Fangorn is the most perilous wood in Middle Earth. I should be grateful for the part they have played, but I do not love for them. You may think them wonderful, but I have seen a greater wonder in this land, more beautiful than any grove of glade that ever grew: my heart is still full of it." Buffy giggled.
"Strange are the ways of men, Legolas! Here they have one of the marvels of the Northern World, and what do they say of it? Caves they say! Caves! Holes to fly to in time of war, to store fodder in! My good Legolas, do you know that the caverns of Helm's deep are vast and beautiful? There would be an endless pilgrimage of dwarves, merely to gaze at them, if such things were known to be. Aye indeed, they would pay pure gold for a brief glance!"
"And I would give gold to be excused. And double to be let out, if I strayed in!"
"You have not seen, so I forgive your jest. But you speak like a fool. Do you think those halls are fair, where your king dwells under the hill in Mirkwood, and dwarves helped in their making long ago? They are but hovels compared with the caverns I have seen here: immeasurable halls, filled with an everlasting music of water that tinkles into pools, as fair as Kheled_zaram in the starlight."
"ugh." Buffy shuddered.
"What is wrong, lady Buffy? Are you cold?"
"No. I don't like caves in particular. Especially ones with water on the walls, and moss. And a pool on the floor. Ugh!"
"Why such feelings about such beauty?" Gimli demanded.
"When that's where you went to meet your fate, and you died, it's not full of fond memories. I'm sorry, but could we cut down on the cave talk? I find caves scary. Not for the cave itself, or the dark, but what lurks in the dark."
"But with torches! Ah! When torches are kindled and men walk on the sandy floors under the echoing domes! There are columns of white and saffron and dawn rose, Legolas, fluted and twisted into dreamlike forms, they spring up from many colored floors to meet the glistening pendants of the roof: wings, ropes, curtains fine as frozen clouds; spears, banners, pinnacles of suspended palaces! Still lakes mirror them, a glimmering world looks up from dark pools covered with clear glass."
"You move me Gimli, I have never heard you speak like this before. Almost you make me regret that I have not seen these caves. Come! Let us make this bargain- if we both return safe out of the perils that await us, we will journey for awhile together. You shall visit Fangorn with me, and then I will come with you to see Helm's Deep."
"That would not be the way of return that I should choose. But I would endure Fangorn, if I have your promise to come back to he caves and share their wonders with me."
"You have my promise."
"I'd like to see these things too, if you don't mind."
"The more the merrier, Lady Buffy. But alas, now we must leave behind both cave and wood for awhile. See" We are coming to the end of the trees. How far is it to Isengaurd, Gandalf?"
"About fifteen leagues as the crows of Saruman make it. Five from the mouth of deeping-coomb to the fords, and ten more from there to the gates of Isengaurd. But we shall not ride all the way this night."
"Good." Buffy muttered. Her backside was already beginning to hurt.
"And when we come there, what shall we see? You may know, but I cannot guess."
"I do not know myself for certain." Answered the wizard. "I was there at nightfall yesterday, but much may have happened since. Yet I think that you will not say that the journey was in vain- not though the Glittering Caves of Aglarond be left behind." ~ * ~ A/N: Told you! It's now. . . . .10:57 p.m., on November 29, 2003, and this part is done! Finally!
Sorry that it's sorta short, but it took a long time to type this all, since it came directly from the book, most of it anyway! Don't mean to plagiarize! I give all credit where credit is due, and major credit is due to J. R. R. Tolkein, who would be . . . . . 112, in 2004. Did you know what we share the same B-day? But he's like . . . . . . Well, 112 minus 16 is. . . . . . .Where's the calculator? . . . . . . . . 96! That's it! He's 96 years older than me.
That's old. . . . . .