A/N: Again, thanks to everyone for the reviews and I want to apologize if this chapter isn't all that great because I had really bad writer's block when attempting to write it. So, my apologies. But I hope you enjoy.

Chapter Two

Buffy slowly opened her eyes, thankful for the lack of light emanating the room around her; she didn't think her head could handle anything much brighter. She slowly sat up on the bed she was occupying but regretted it instantly as searing pain flowed through her head. Placing a hand to her forehead, while releasing a small groan, she gave in to laying back down. As she closed her eyes once more, she heard a soft voice beside her. "Stay still, my lady. You need your rest."

She opened her eyes in time to see the blonde elf sit on a chair placed beside the bed. She watched as he placed a white cloth in a metallic bowl on the nightstand beside her. He drained the excess water from it before dabbing it on her forehead; it didn't even cross Buffy's mind to stop him like she normally would.

A sigh past her lips as the warm water seemed to ease her pain slightly. She stared in the eyes of the elf but neither said anything to the other and Buffy couldn't help but smile at him. He was so beautiful and his presence seemed to sooth her like no one had before. Not even with Angel; then again, with him there was that nightmarish thought of him turning back into Angelus.

Legolas gently wiped the dirt that remained on her face as he stared at her, and as the water wiped the filth away he saw just how beautiful she truly was; causing him to catch his breath at the sight of her. He brushed a few damp strands of hair from her face and smiled.

"How are you feeling?" He broke the silence.

Buffy laughed slightly before grimacing in pain; swallowing a lump in her throat, she answered, "I've been better. But then again, I think I've been worse. No, scratch that. I haven't." Her response brought a slight laugh passed Legolas' lips and Buffy saw his eyes sparkle like the stars in the sky.

"Where am I anyway?" Buffy asked as she looked around the room.

"In one of King Theoden's guest chambers." Legolas answered, not veering his eyes away from her.

Buffy looked back and him and smirked, "Guest chambers?" She asked with her eyebrows cocked.

"Yes. Why?" Legolas was confused with her question.

"Why can't things be simple when it comes to speaking? Like slang. Now that's my language." Buffy responded after rolling her eyes.

"S-l-a-n-g?" Legolas dragged the word out as he tested it on his tongue.

"Yeah. You know. Things like: 'What's the sitch?' or 'What's up?'…things like that." She laughed at the look on his face. His eyebrows were raised as high as they would go and his mouth a gap. "Never mind. I shall teach you when you are ready my little grasshopper." Buffy added.

"Wh-" Legolas started but Buffy interrupted him by shaking her head. "Don't worry about it. I'm just being my silly ol' self."

"Will I see this side of you more often?" Legolas asked in a hopeful tone.

One side of Buffy's lips curled at his question, "More than likely. It sort of comes naturally." Buffy answered. He smiled at her answer and she gratefully returned the smile. Legolas opened his mouth to say something, but didn't get the chance before the door to the chamber opened up.

"Legolas. You are being beckoned to a meeting with King Theoden in the Golden Hall." A man ordered. Legolas nodded in understanding to the man, and the door closed; leaving Buffy and Legolas alone once more.

"I have to go. Will you be alright by yourself?" Legolas asked as he held her hand in his.

"Yeah, I'll be fine. Thank you." She answered with a slight nod of her head.

"Okay, try to get some rest and I'll be back as soon as I can." Legolas said and then walked out of the chamber; leaving Buffy alone. She relaxed into the bed and closed her eyes; falling into a dreamless sleep.

Buffy awoke to a soft knock on the door. She blinked a couple times to get rid of the slight haze in her vision. She heard another knock, and being more awake this time, realized what it was.

"Uh…come in." She said groggily.

The door opened and a young maiden walked in with a bundle of clothes in her arms. Buffy gave her the best smile she could at the moment and the lady nodded slightly in her direction.

"The town is evacuating by the King's orders, my lady. I was sent here to assist you." The maiden explained and Buffy looked at her in confusion.

"Assist me?" She finally asked.

"Yes. Do you not have things you need to bring along?" She asked with a slight head tilt to the left. Buffy smiled and shrugged, while lifting her hands slightly in the air.

"All I've got is what's on my back." Buffy answered.

"Oh, well, that would explain why Gandalf gave me these." She handed Buffy the clothes she had been holding and Buffy noticed it was a long, beautiful, blue dress. And a pair of shoes to go with it.

"I…I don't know what to say." Buffy said with a bewildered look on her face.

"No need. He thought you'd feel much better if you got out of those." The lady gestured with her hand to Buffy's dirty and torn white, long sleeved shirt and gray pants. Buffy looked down at her clothes and smiled.

"Actually, I don't think I should wear this." She tried to hand the dress and shoes back to the maiden but she refused.

"No. No. You must take them. They are a gift from the great wizard." She insisted but Buffy again turned down the offer; shoving the dress away from her and into the maidens arms.

"No. You see, I've decided along time ago that it's a bad idea to slay in a dress. It took me forever to figure that out, but I did." Buffy explained and the maiden looked confused.

"Slay? Whatever do you mean? Surely you are not a warrior; they do not allow that."

Oh, boy. Buffy thought as she remembered that no one here knew she was the slayer.

"Well, actually, I am. A warrior, I mean. At least where I come from." Buffy answered and the woman looked down right shocked.

"But it is not custom."

"It is for me. I fight alone. That's what a slayer does. That's all she is… is alone." Buffy explained and then quickly passed by the maiden into the hall before she could be asked anymore questions. That last bit about her being alone wasn't directed to the maiden, she just simply said it out loud. Why? She didn't know.

She turned to walk down the hall and bumped into Aragorn. She had to look up to see in his eyes. He had no expression on his face but she knew he heard the conversation.

"Walk with me." He said and started down the hall; Buffy in tow. They walked in silence for awhile and it was beginning to bother her.

"So…" she started to break it but was interrupted.

"What's a Slayer?" Aragorn asked, staring straight ahead, still no expression on his face.

"Oh, boy. That question." She started as she stuffed her hands in her pockets and stared at her feet as they walked. "Okay, here goes. In every generation there is a chosen one. She alone will stand against the vampires, demons and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer." She looked back up at Aragorn after she finished and noticed him staring at her. She quickly averted her eyes away from his.

"And… that's me." She sighed as she looked around the hall.

They had somehow wandered out of the building and were walking down to the stables; Buffy had become quiet after explaining to Aragorn about her calling, and Aragorn knew he had hit a nerve, but he somehow knew it crucial to find out about what her being a 'Slayer' meant. He would have to speak to Gandalf about her; maybe he had some answers as to why she was here.

Aragorn pulled open the door and allowed Buffy to enter before him. She nodded her head in thanks and saw Gimli, Gandalf, and Legolas preparing the horses for travel. She walked up to Legolas without looking at him as she watched Aragorn approach Gandalf. She stared in their direction, but wasn't paying attention to what was happening. She was too busy thinking about her conversation with the ranger.

"How are you feeling?" Legolas asked; breaking her out of her trance.

"Huh?" She asked quickly; staring up at the blue eyed elf.

"How are you feeling?" He repeated more slowly and she just shook her head as she crossed her arms in front of her chest.

"Will you be riding with me?" Legolas asked; noticing the distant look in her eyes.

"Yeah. I… I guess so." Buffy mumbled out, not really hearing what he asked.

She was suddenly pulled backwards by Legolas and Buffy looked at him with anger flashing through her eyes until she saw the white streak pass them as Gandalf rode out of the stable with full speed. She looked at Legolas briefly and then looked down; blush running through her cheeks.

"Uh, thanks." She said as she pulled herself out of his grasp as politely as possible.

She looked away from the elf as she heard Aragorn approaching. He stopped in front of her and nodded his head. He placed a hand on her shoulder and she smiled slightly; he seemed to her like a wonderful father figure.

"I have spoken to Gandalf and he is going to try and figure out you're purpose here." Aragorn explained and Buffy's face saddened even more than it was before.

"Purpose. Do I need a purpose? I… I mean I had one in my world, but…but I'm done with that now. Can't I just… I don't know. Be. Have no reason. I did jump through a portal you know. So…" Buffy stammered on.

"There is always a purpose for everyone." Legolas interrupted as he looked down at her worried self.

"But I want to be purpose free. Free of purpose. Purpose is bad. Very bad. It means growing up before you've even come of age. It means being responsible. I just want the chance to be carefree and not have any worries. I can't remember the last time I've had that. Please, while I'm here can't I have that?" Buffy was in tears by the time she reached the end of her rambling.

Without thinking Legolas wrapped her in his arms and stroked her hair in an attempt to sooth and comfort her. After a moment of allowing Buffy's sadness to flow out, Aragorn spoke up.

"Come. We must ride." Buffy turned to face the ranger and attempted a smile; failing miserably. She nodded her head in agreement and followed Legolas to his horse as she fell back into her thoughts. Frightened that maybe, just maybe, there was no way to escape her fate, her calling...... her life.