...:: When Dreaming Ends ::...
Buffy looked around at the countless men who have joined them for the
last battle; the battle for Middle-Earth. It had only been a week or
so and already it has begun. Pippin and Gandalf were in Gondor, Frodo
and Sam, God could only hope, was at or making their way to Mordor.
Merry, Legolas, Aragorn, Gimli, Haldir, and Rohan's king and soldiers
were all here. After that harsh night of having the truth revealed to
everyone about her feelings for Haldir, she ended things with Legolas.
Surprisingly, Legolas understood and still, they could maintain a
great friendship with one another. It was amazing! She was glad to be
with Haldir now and not have to hide or run away, be scared or told to
leave. It was all on her now and what she would make of it and she and
Haldir both agreed that after this war, they were sailing to Valinor,
The Undying Lands to spend the rest of their elvenhood together as a
married couple.
Buffy spotted her father and she was extremely surprised to see him.
He waved her over to him, not looking the least bit angry with her;
but looks can be deceiving. "Daughter, I know with whom your heart
lies... I am not upset nor am I going to convince you that your heart
is wrong. You have my blessing." Buffy's eyes were filled with tears
as Elrond brought his hand up to her face, his eyes full of emotion as
well, and kissed her forehead. "I have wished this to be true and now
that it is, I cannot believe it!" Her voice came out weak as if she
would have given up if he had told her he wanted her to be with
Legolas. "Please understand that what I did before was because I was
scared to loose you." Buffy leaned her head against his chest, crying.
"No father, there is nothing to understand, nor to forgive. I love you
and I'd do anything for you... but I cannot change what I feel
inside." Elrond nodded, looked at her face in his hands, smiled, and
kissed her forehead and then bid her farewell and good luck.
Pelennor Fields
Buffy stood beside Haldir, behind Theoden and his men. Aragorn,
Legolas, and Gimli had gone off to the Paths of the Dead. "This is
exciting! The fate of Middle-Earth is in our hands!" Haldir smiled and
nudged Buffy the way she had to him back at the Battle at Helm's Deep.
"Yes, another chance for us to complete our bet." Buffy grinned
wickedly. "Sure... if you think you're up for it!" Haldir sneered and
then let loose a little laughter. Theoden paced the fields were his
soldiers were lined up and ready to fight. Ahead of them stood
billions upon billions of Uruk-hai and orcs. "Spears shall be shaken,
shields shall be splintered!" Theoden rode across his men ready to
fight. The orcs began marching toward Theoden and his army. "A sword
day... a red day... and the sun rises!" The riders pointed out their
spears and before the White City, the orcs knelt and did the same.
"Death!" Theoden yelled into each of his men's face, clanking swords
with spears. He stood on his horse in front of Buffy and Haldir who
sat on their horses. "Thank you my friends for coming with us this
far." Buffy grinned. "If this is to be the end, there's no other place
I'd rather be! I'll die for you, King Theoden, and each of your men as
if they were you." Theoden bowed his head to honor the princess before
him.
The fight finally began. Rohan's riders rode out firing arrows at will
killing off many of the orcs and the orcs fought back. The armies
finally met, Rohan's army killing off all the Uruk-hai and orcs they
could, riding their horses through the crowd and slicing and dicing.
Suddenly, everything became silent and still as the Mumakil, huge
elephant-like creatures, rode up. Everyone watched as the huge
creatures marched toward them in a line. Buffy's mouth dropped. "Oh
my... God!" Haldir couldn't reply because his expression was the same.
"Reform the line!" Theoden was studdering, frightened. Buffy glanced
over at him as if he were crazy but did as he said. The ground began
to shake and one of the riders on the Mumakil sounded his horn. "Sound
the charge!" Rohan's horn sounded loudly. "Charge!"
As Gamling's horn sounded in the air, the Rohirrim rushed toward the
enemy. They clashed and many riders fell dead as the Mûmakil used
their gigantic tusks, covered with spikes, their huge feet crushing
and throwing aside all that stood in their way. The Haradrim shot
their arrows, killing many of the Rohirrim. The fields were in chaos,
and the Rohirrim seemed unable to match the huge beasts of the enemy.
Èomer stopped to face one of the beasts, and spear in hand, and slayed
the commander, causing the Mûmak to stomp madly into another of its
kind, causing both to fall to the ground.
Buffy cut into one of the orcs running in front of her but didn't see
the Mumakil falling in her direction. It hit her like a ton of bricks
as her horse was slammed away from under her and her body jolted to
the ground. Théoden stopped and turned slowly, to see the Witch-King
of Angmar flying down to him. He watched in horror, as the Fell beast
of the Nazgûl took his horse with its jaws. In the distance, Èowyn
stopped, watching as the beast threw her uncle to the ground, trapping
him under his horse. The Witch-king guided its steed to the broken
King. Buffy watched, frightened because she couldn't move or help the
King in any way. Haldir rushed toward her. "Buffy!" Buffy shook her
head, blood coming from her mouth. "Go help the King! Go!" She pointed
profusely to Theoden but Haldir simply refused to leave her side. "No,
I'm staying by your side."
"Feast on his flesh!" The Fell beast approached in relish, and still
trapped, Théoden could move only his arms. He watched as a warrior he
recognised as Èowyn position herself between the Nazgûl and the king.
"I will kill you if you touch him!" The Witch-King sneered and reered
up the Nazgul demon. "Do not come between a Nazgul and his prey!"
Èowyn stood her ground, her feet apart, and her sword ready, and the
Fell beast attacked. She cried out as she slashed at the creature,
cutting its head from its body. The beast fell to the ground, the
Witch-King still on its back. Èowyn picked up a wooden shield from the
ground, preparing to face the Nazgûl. Finally, the Nazgûl turned to
face her, weilding its spiky sledge-hammer. Èowyn stared at the weapon
in the Witch-king's hand, her eyes wide with fear. Trapped under his
horse, Théoden watched as Dernhelm ducked the hit from the Nazgûl's
sledge-hammer. Many times the Witch-king swung with his weapon, at
last striking her shield, and shattering it to pieces. Èowyn cried out
in pain and fell onto her back. "Fool, no man can kill me! Now die!"
Eowyn smiled and brought up her sword, taking off her helmet. "I am no
man!" She thrusted her sword into the Witch-King's eyes, killing him.
Buffy stood up slowly with Haldir's help. "You're going to be all
right, Buffy. You just got the wind knocked out of you." Buffy laughed
a bit awkwardly. "Yea, that must be it." In the distance, Buffy and
Haldir saw Legolas and Gimli running toward the Mumakil, firing arrows
and killing off orcs. "The calvalry is back!" Aragorn came up behind
them. Legolas and Gimli were still counting their killings, keeping
score. Legolas grabbed onto the rope binding the platform onto the
Oliphaunt's back, and with a slash, he cut the rope, causing the the
platform fall to the ground, bringing the remaining warriors with it.
He stringed three arrows, shooting them into the beast's head. With a
groan of agony, it fell to the ground, as Legolas slid off the trunk,
landing on the ground before Gimli. Gimli grumbled. "That still counts
as only one!" The Dead seep through the fields killing off all the
orc. Buffy and Haldir back fighting more orcs.
Buffy turned in the direction of Legolas, seeing that he was now
starring at her, smiling and waving. She waved back and saw his face
contort into warning and horror, but it was too late because a sword
slid through her chest and she arched with it, her eyes wide, blood
seeping from the corner of her mouth. Legolas screamed out her name
and Haldir turned, grabbing his head in horror. The orc wasn't done,
he shoved another sword through her chest and pulled it out quickly.
Buffy fell to her knees looking up into Haldir's face as he dropped
down in front of her. In the distance, she saw Legolas running toward
her, Aragorn and Gimli following. "Oh... Oh my God! Buffy..." Haldir
began to cry with utter shock and sorrow at the loss of his lover.
Buffy's breath began to slow as Haldir laid her down on the ground.
Her eyes searching in his, becoming glossed over, her face becoming
pale. Nothing was said as everyone strained to listen when Buffy
opened her mouth. "I was a fool to believe..." She began to sing,
everyone's eyes were filled with tears. "It all ends today. Yes, it
all ends today...." Haldir joined in with her, he knew the hymn she
was singing. "Today's the day when dreaming... ends!" Buffy seeped in
her last breathe and then her form became motionless, lifeless, dead.
Everyone stood except Haldir, who picked up her body first and held it
in her arms. All of the orcs had either retreated or died and the King
of the Dead now stood before the army with their army behind him.
"Release me!" Legolas bowed his head. Aragorn rose his hand in a
solute to honor them. "You are now released." The Dead laughed as
their spirits flew up into the Heavens.
Lorien
All of the Galadhrim walked out of Caradhas forming two lines, leaving
the long stairway that connected to the pathway in the middle.
Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, the hobbits, and Gandalf stood on either line
watching. Tears filled all of their eyes. Down the stairway, Lord
Elrond walked down first, followed by the twin sons and then Arwen,
his last daughter. Elrond stopped once he reached the pathway and
bowed his head. The twin boys and Arwen made their way onto the ends
of the lines, Lord Elrond remained by the stairway as Haldir came
down. Everyone heard him sniffling, trying to hold the tears back.
And, it seemed now... in these woods, Buffy's voice could be heard.
Night came on, and a full moon rose high over the trees,
Buffy's casket was brought down before the Lord and the Lady walked
down and joined Haldir and Elrond. The Galadhrim were escourting Buffy
to her grave. The casket was extremely beautiful. Ivory for the bottom
and then glass, so you could see Buffy.
Lighting the land till it lay bathed in ghostly day.
Haldir smiled with a tear in his eye, swallowing sobs that were deep
in his throat. She looked incredibly beautiful, his wife.... She wore
a white lace dress and her mithril crown... her golden blond hair came
over her shoulders and her face was covered in a white, sheer veil. "I
love you..."
And the strain of the primitive remained alive and active.
Legolas glanced over at Haldir, hoping the guardian was going to make
it. Elves could die from sorrow and Legolas knew just how close Buffy
and Haldir were. They were soulmates, connected by mind, heart, and
soul. This seperation could very well be the end of Haldir. In his own
heart, Legolas, too, felt a deep turmoil. This might be the end of
himself.
Faithfulness and devotion, things born of fire and roof were his...
In the starry sky overhead, a golden light shined down on the group of
elves, man, dwarf, and hobbits. Everyone looked up and saw Buffy's
face in the golden, night sky. Her smile was brilliant and Haldir
couldn't help but smile. They came to a stop at a hole dug deep beside
a tree near the river. Slowly, the casket was lowered into the earth
and Haldir's eyes never left Buffy's face. He smiled, knowing she was
at peace.
Yet, he retained his wildness and wiliness...
The sky returned to normal as everyone bid their last goodbyes to the
princess they all loved so much. But, Haldir, Legolas, Aragorn, the
hobbits, Gandalf, and Gimli stayed behind. They stood in silence for a
long while and then turned back into the woods, deeper. They almost
reached Lorien when a bright light shot down from the sky and then it
got dark, but they saw light flickering between the trees. Haldir and
Legolas both knew who it was and called for her at the same time. No
answer. But between two trees in the distance, Buffy stood illuminated
with the light of Heavens. She waved goodbye to them, a tear falling
from her eye. Haldir stepped up, reacing out for her but just as he
did so, Buffy was gone. Haldir starred in the spot for a long while,
even after everyone had headed back.
And from the depths of the forest, a call still sounded.
Epilogue
Aragorn walked down the pathway on the high hill of Gondor's white
capital. Legolas, followed by the Elven kingdom, met him up almost
halfway. Legolas wore his crown and dressed as he was, the Prince of
Mirkwood. "Hannon le." Legolas said nothing, only smiled, his eyes
flickering to something behind Aragorn. Turning, Aragorn saw Elrond of
Rivendell beside him, a lady carrying a white banner. Arwen merged
from behind the banner, tears glittering in her eyes. Aragorn took her
in his arms and they kissed each other for a long moment. They walked
to the four hobbits who bowed before them. "My friends, you bow to no
one." He turned to see Haldir and all of the Galadhrim on the side of
him. He put his hand up to the guardian's shoulder in honor. "I am
sorry for the grief of her loss." Aragorn turned and faced everyone.
"During the battle, the Princess of Rivendell, our friend and loved
one, died honorably. She will not be forgotten and will be greatly
missed and still loved. Buffy of Rivendell, if you're watching from
Heaven, please know that all of us from Middle-Earth miss you and some
day we shall all meet again at the White Gate." Everyone clapped, then
bowing their heads in respect.