(Warning! Grotesque rape scene!) Buffy knew he was right and decided it smart to stay quiet and oblige. The man turned back around, facing them with a look filled with lust. "Untie the male elf, but take his weapons and before you unbind him, make sure he is blindfolded first and left in the middle of the river, that way you may make your way back here and he shall not follow. The female elf we shall keep for our pleasure." A look of horror was clearly being expressed by both Haldir and Buffy. The men did just that, leaving Haldir blindfolded and stuck in the middle of a huge lake. Haldir paid close attention and listened at their footsteps as they got onto shore. By that time he had already taken the blindfold off. His main concern was rescuing Buffy before anything happened. It was night before he made it back to familiar territory. He retraced steps earlier upon being captured and found himself back in front of the entrance of the cave, although one problem made itself clear right from the start. Guards. Behind one guard on the side, he spotted his bow and quiver along with his sword. He had to make it around the other side to pull in a surprise attack and retrieve his weapons. So he did that, hoping he would still make it in time only knowing that truth be made, it was highly unlikely. Buffy bit her lip watching the mortal men gobbling down on their food. She knew that once they finished they would be coming for her and knew their intentions and she was right. A man who had finished early walked over to the man who was obviously in charge and after she watched the man give her a look and then a silent nod back to the other man before him. He walked up to her and kicked her in the stomach. A few more men who had finished, jumped in beating her. Lacerations were made on her back and parts of her face, another on her leg and many bruises she knew would form, the whole time she remained silent, wincing. She knew her silence only provoked more of the men's violence but she wouldn't give them the satisfaction at her expense. Finally, once she could no longer feel her body and cared no longer whether they raped her or not, she was stripped of her clothes. One man inched between her legs, and she grinded her teeth feeling his sharp entrance in her. After that man finished, another came and did the same, followed by another and so it remained the way until it seemed every man had already had their chance. Buffy prayed to God that Haldir would not come and find her this way. It was embarrassing. She saw the guy who she believed to be the leader walk up to her, he had been the only one not to rape her yet. He stood before her inspecting her appearance. Indeed, she knew she was in bad shape. She was hurt bad. Really bad. Bleeding to death with every pound from the men raping her, more blood left her body from the lacerations, blood had also escaped her lips. The leader grabbed her face and forced his lips against hers, pushing his tongue in deep. Revultion clung to her and more blood had escaped her lips. She began to turn in a fit of coughing, blood pouring from her mouth. She knew she was going to die this way and part of her didn't care. "I have never had an elf's touch before. I should like this very much indeed!" He began to unbuckle his pants when Buffy spotted the switchblade held by one strap around his knee. She reached out with more speed then the mortal men could conceive of and jabbed it into his thigh, then brought it up to his arm as best she could and jabbed again. The man winced in pain and let loose a roar. He took the blade from her and stuck it straight through her arm causing her to cry out in pain for the first time, the blood clogging her throat and causing her cries to come out as bubbled blood. "Bitch! Now you shall get it!" He kicked open her legs causing the laceration in it to spill blood. Haldir had successfully killed the two men standing guard and had retrieved his weapons. He looked into the entrance and the sight he caught made his heart stop. Buffy's battered body lay limp as a man stood over her kicking her and causing her to cough up blood, choking. Horror had taken hold of his body, spotting the blade that the man had used earlier to slice her cheek, now all the way through her upper arm. He pulled out his arrows and prepared to fire, shooting out more than ten men before the other men even realized what happened. He heard the leader roar and Haldir reached in his broach for another arrow, but felt around and came to the terrifying realization that he had no more. They had taken many of his arrows for their own use. Men were rushing at him now and had seized him. He was brought forth to the leader and as he struggled, his heart barely beat when he caught a closer look at Buffy. He wanted to cry for her, for her body, for her soul. "You know, I should have realized that you were more resourceful than I had taken you for. I'd much rather see you and the lass fuck each other." Haldir sneered. The man laughed, knowing what the elf's reaction would be. "Fine. If you will not then I shall." Haldir heard a stiffled moan from Buffy and he couldn't believe what he was about to do. "No! I'll do it. I'll do it!" The men dragged him over to Buffy and kicked him down on his knees. Haldir brought his hand up to Buffy's cheek and a tear fell from his eye. He wondered if she even felt his touch and he leaned in, whispering in her ear. "I tried to get here as fast as I could. Please forgive me for what I am about to do." Buffy's eyes opened slowly and it made Haldir want to cry out for her. "Do not do it, Haldir." She choked out. "Aww, this is very sweet and all, but I want to see two elves fucking!" Haldir gave a moment's thought. "I sent word with Calcionelle to get the Patrol out here for help. They shall be here soon. Do not worry." The man grabbed Haldir's shoulder roughly. "I didn't place you near the bitch to talk, fuck her or I shall show you how!" The men broke out in laughter all around the two. Haldir decided to start out with a kiss to stall for time. He leaned down bringing his lips close to Buffy's. He could smell the blood and now, could hear the choking better. "Don't... do... it." Buffy was trying to stop him but he realized that she realized her arm was bound to the dirt. "Now!" The man kicked Haldir, pushing him into the kiss. Haldir's lips melted against Buffy's and the blood crept into his mouth. Revultion crept through him at the taste of blood, he cringed. The man sneered at the kiss the two elves were sharing. "That is just pathetic!" The men took Haldir from Buffy's side and held onto him while the leader had two other of his men pick Buffy up and hold her up in front of him. "Let me show you how it's done, since you are incompetant to accomplish a real kiss yourself!" Again, laughter broke out around Haldir. He didn't care nor did he give it a thought, his concern was on Buffy and her alone. She was dying, he could see. Her skin, usually creamy white was now as blank as alabaster stone. Her lips were blue with dried blood in the corners and her eyes, glazed over. The man leaned in, just about to plant a kiss when an arrow shot through the cave and lodged itself deep within his neck. Haldir watched the man grab his neck as the blood spurted out, falling to the ground. More arrows sung through the air, killing off all of the men. Haldir dropped to his knees and crawled over to Buffy. The Wide Patrol rushed in and crowded around Buffy and Haldir. "What happened?" Rumil's eyes were wide, Orophin beside him gasped, covering his mouth. He couldn't blame his brothers' expressions for the sight of Buffy was indeed traumatizing. "We... we were walking and these men captured us. She... they raped her and beat her." A healer ran up to Buffy and began fixing her up. "How many?" The healer's eyes were wide, never had he ever seen such injuries. "I do not know, but I do know that quite a bit of them had before I found her. She looked the way she does now when I came back." Orophin's brow furrowed. "Came back?" Haldir nodded, placing his head in his hands. "Yes. The men had taken me far from here and it took me half a day to find my way back." Haldir, along with Rumil and Orophin helped carry Buffy back to Lorien where she was placed in Montreal's chambers to heal and get better. She was unconscious now and calling out absurd things within her drowsy state. Haldir was forced to leave the room to get checked. Montreal emerged from the room with blood covering his clothes. Haldir stood, fearing the worst but he knew he had to see her. "Buffy is stable now. She will live, but she needs much rest." Haldir nodded, this was better news than he could hope for. "May I go see her?" Montreal shook his head. "No, I'm afraid not." Haldir's face became stern, but Montreal remained resolved. "Lord Elrond is on his way to Lothlorien and should be here within two days. Lord Celeborn has made it impecably clear that Lord Elrond is to be the first to see or even speak to Buffy whom is not a healer. Do you understand?" Haldir nodded, this was to his unliking. "Lord Celeborn has requested to speak with you in his private chambers." Alerted now, Haldir grumbled. Montreal placed his hand on the Guardian's shoulders. "Do not worry, I shall tell Buffy that you would have seen her if you could." "I expected better judgement from the both of you. Princess Buffy was placed under my direct protection and now Lord Elrond will be furious with me. She was my responsibility and I have failed. I had hoped and thought I could expect much more caution from you both, especially you Haldir. You've know for centuries the type of men that lurk in that area of land, yet you did not proceed with caution. I am extremely disappointed," Lord Celeborn paused. Haldir stood with his eyes at the floor, close to breaking down. Lord Celeborn was going easy on him, Haldir believed. He knew it was truly his own fault instead of the elf Lord before him, and he knew Lord Celeborn was taking full blame and responisbility for it. This only made things worse, and he retreated within himself. "You are not permitted to speak to Buffy or even see her until her father has had time with her. And only after that can you see her, by her request." Lord Celeborn emphasized on the last detail; that Buffy was to request upon seeing Haldir before he could actually go see her. "Yes, my Lord." Celeborn placed his hand on Haldir's cheek, in comfort. "Haldir... I am truly sorry for the whole of this situation. But take head, Lord Elrond shall have much to say about the brunt of this and I know that you and Buffy will receive that brunt and without mercy. I have known Elrond very many centuries and I know he will be angry." Haldir could say nothing except 'Yes, my Lord.' and accept graciously the lecture he was receiving.