DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters in this story. They belong to Joss Whedon, J.R.R. Tolkien, and their other respective owners.
A/N ABOUT THIS STORY: As you can tell, I've taken several scenes directly from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Lord of the Rings, word-for-word in the dialogue. This is not to rip off any of the real writers because I respect their work and I am not a plagiarist. This is an artistic ploy to put the reader in the mindset of where they are and is essential to the story. The Buffy episodes used were episodes (5.5) "No Place Like Home," written by Doug Petrie and (5.22) "The Gift," written by Joss Whedon. The movies used are, of course, Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, written by Frances Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Peter Jackson, based on the books by J.R.R. Tolkien (if you didn't know that, shame, shame).
IMPORTANT: I should probably address this now, since I've gotten quite a few emails about it. As for the errors in grammar - I'm not really an English major, and even though the chapters are reviewed before they're posted, I'll keep trying to revise and edit them to be more correct. If you notice any problems that are specific, feel free to let me know by emailing me:
ABOUT THE DIALOGUE ERRORS: Lord of the Rings is a pretty complicated fandom to cross over with Buffy, more complicated than say Smallville or X-Files because to be true to the story and characters you have to go pretty much by the books (and/or movies). The Fellowship (the original nine) is a Fellowship for a specific time and for a specific reason, and in my story the LOTR-verse has to mend to the Buffyverse to a certain extent, but it cannot stray too far from the original story. However, the Buffyverse for one reason or another can bend more to the LOTR story than the other way around.
Because I have to keep so close to the original LOTR story, I make a point of changing some of the dialogue of the LOTR characters because it's not much of an original story if I just copy down word-for-word every single thing that they do and say. (That is what I did in the Prologue and first chapter to stress the point of THIS how it's supposed to be, and THIS is where the two worlds change.) Since this is sort of supposed to be a lost Buffy episode, I don't really have to worry about what the Scoobies say as long as it stays true to their characters.
But once again, thank you for paying so much attention to these details and I will try to correct as many errors as I can find.
8: Bridge
The floorboards of the Magic Box began to shake beneath Giles, Anya, Riley and Tara as they continued their trance. A gust of wind began to blow through the room that gave a tremendous howl.
"One heart..." Giles breathed, his mind far away from him.
Anya added, her mind also entrenched, "One demon..."
Tara softly whispered as the wind blew her blonde hair around, "One power..."
Riley declared with determined finality, "One champion..."
Their concentration was broken by a low-pitched, deep bellow that sounded out through the magic shop. They opened their eyes and turned towards the back of the store in front of the counter where a bluish, translucent light began to appear like a puff of smoke.
"There!" Anya declared, pointing at the cloud. "Something's happening!"
"It's working," Riley grinned. "We're bridging the gap!"
"A Balrog," Gandalf declared gravely. The Fellowship stood in the middle of a great hall as it slowly began to creak and moan. Far away from them at the very end, firelight appeared out of nowhere and began to glow even brighter, quickly approaching them.
"Come again?" Spike turned to the wizard.
"A demon of the ancient world," Gandalf continued, his fears beginning to take him over.
"Like an old one?" Willow asked, then turned to Buffy, "'cause we've had those before."
Buffy stared down the hall at the approaching light, "I don't know, Will." She shook her head and sighed nervously, "I don't think it's the same thing."
"I sure hope not," Xander gawked at the firelight, and then glanced at the others. "Unless anybody happens to have any spare C4 lying around?"
"This is beyond any of you," Gandalf announced, then turned away. He yelled out, "Run!" A second later, the Fellowship raced down the hall as the firelight followed them. They reached the end of the great hall and entered another gigantic cave illuminated with fire. The path ended with a magnificent drop off, darkness extending further down than even the eye of an elf could see.
The gazed down at the drop off in fear – there was no place left to run. Aragorn turned to the wizard, "Gandalf—"
"Lead them on," he ordered instantly, then signaled across the cavern to a bridge crossing the massive gorge. Aragorn hesitated as Gandalf roared, "Do as I say! Swords are no more use here."
The cloudy ball of light in the Magic Box began tear apart and circle around, becoming a small vortex. Giles, Riley, Anya and Tara stood up and rushed towards the vortex, standing near the entrance of the room as it began to whirl and howl in front of them. The speed increased and it blew more wind through the store, sounds of thunder and flashes of lighting following after.
The circular vortex increased in size as well, becoming a bluish, cloudy, swirling disc with a diameter of at least twelve feet across. "The portal!" Anya declared elatedly. "It's opening!"
"Now we wait for it to find Buffy!" Giles shouted over the moaning of the wind.
Aragorn led the Fellowship down long, winding staircases of stone and descended through the gorge. The narrow stone staircases were angled at a steep incline, and with a single slip, one could disappear into the darkness below.
The Fellowship steadily and carefully moved down the stairs until they came to a place where the staircase was broken in the middle. Legolas approached the gap of about a yard and easily leapt over it to the lower part of the stairs. A cracking noise sounded out through the cavern as the staircase the rest of the Fellowship was on shifted a teeny distance.
"Gandalf!" Legolas called out to the wizard and signaled him to jump. Gandalf looked back at the entrance to the cavern, knowing the Balrog was not far behind. He gazed down at the lower staircase and jumped the gap. Swishing sounds filled the cavern as a rain of arrows bombarded the Fellowship.
Buffy stared far away at the walls of the cavern and could barely see orcs with bows and arrows firing at them. "These guys don't give up, do they?" she declared.
"Neither do we," Willow announced. Buffy turned to her to see her eyes dark with magic as Willow began to whisper into the wind. Legolas pulled out his bow and arrows and began to fire back, striking an orc directly in between its amphibian-like eyes.
"Merry! Pippin!" Boromir called out as he scooped up both hobbits in his arms and jumped the gap. As his feet left the end of the staircase, it gave way, now making the gap five feet wide.
Willow continued to whisper in Latin as she turned her palms up to the ceiling. Two orange balls of light appeared and floated above her hands as screeches rang out in the cave. Looking back at the cave walls, Buffy watched as several orcs, now on fire, collapse off of the walls as their flaming bodies plunged down into the darkness below.
"Sam," Buffy grabbed the hobbit on her right, easily tossing him far over the gap and into Boromir's arms.
The Slayer turned to Gimli next, but he put his hand up to her, insulted, and declared, "Nobody tosses a dwarf!" Without even a running start, Gimli jumped over the gap, his feet barely reaching the edge as he began to fall backwards into the gorge. Legolas reached out and grabbed the dwarf by his long, red facial hair and pulled him towards the others. "Not the beard!" Gimli shouted as he was pulled to safety.
Aragorn fired an arrow and suddenly the staircase beneath him gave way. Buffy was on the edge of the staircase as the stones fell from beneath her feet. She began to plunge to the bottom but her wrist was suddenly caught. Aragorn held on to her arm tightly and the Slayer pulled herself up on the stairs.
Gandalf, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Boromir, Legolas and Gimli stood on the bottom half of the stairs and looked up at Aragorn, Buffy, Willow, Xander, Spike and Frodo who stood on the top half looking down on them, twelve feet of nothingness separating them.
Buffy turned around and ordered, "Spike – grab Frodo! You can make it." With a nod, the vampire picked Frodo off of the ground, and with a running start, Spike easily cleared the gap, landing softly on the other side.
They all turned around towards the entrance from which they came and heard horrible roars and crashing behind the wall. The stones of the wall suddenly popped out and rolled down into the gorge. One of the humongous boulders of the wall tumbled towards them and crashed directly on the flight of stairs that Aragorn and the Scoobies were on. The boulder took out a chunk of the stairs behind them, now isolating them on a pillar.
"Oh, this isn't good!" Xander exclaimed as he felt the pillar holding their part of the stairs up creak and crumble. The entire pillar began to shift. "This is really bad!"
"We've had bad," Willow breathed nervously, glaring down at her feet. "We can do bad!"
"Yeah, we can do bad," Xander answered. "But this is worse!"
"Hold on, everyone!" Aragorn ordered.
"Really don't have to worry about that," Buffy swallowed, staring down at the pillar as it began to sway. The stones holding up the stairs began to crack and break. The crumbling noises rattled their bones as they struggled to keep their balance. The pillar slowly began to lean to the right as they stood helplessly on the edge of the stairs.
"We're gonna die!" Xander yelled.
"No, we're not!" Buffy declared.
"You're right," Xander answered very calmly all of a sudden. "We're going to plummet several hundred stories... and then we're gonna die!"
"Lean forward!" Aragorn commanded as the three of them followed his directions. The pillar groaned loudly as they slowly and steadily began to lean towards the other members of the Fellowship.
"Come on..." Legolas breathed nervously. The staircase crashed directly into the other part as the four remaining Fellowship members quickly stepped off of the collapsing pillar. Now a group of thirteen once again, the Fellowship retreated speedily down the stairs as the unmanned pillar leaned to its left and tumbled into the gorge.
Lightning flashed inside of the Magic Box as Riley walked closer to the portal waiting anxiously for his girlfriend's return. "Giles?" Riley called out, turning back to the watcher. "How long is it supposed to take to find them?"
"I'm not sure," Giles hollered out. Suddenly, another strong gust of wind exploded from the portal – this one much stronger than any of the others. Riley was shoved several feet and fell on his back while the others were pushed backwards into the front of the store. Howls rang out from the inside of the portal as the wind battered down on the four humans in the store.
Tara looked up towards the portal, barely able to see because of the strong gust of wind blowing in her face. "Look!" she yelled. "Someone's coming through!" Giles, Riley and Anya also gazed at the portal as the blue light it was radiating suddenly turned a bright and fiery red. The bridge was now fully open as a voice called out from the portal.
"I... see... you..."
Suddenly, a massive figure stepped through the red disc. The four humans glared up at the humongous figure that towered over them, standing fourteen feet tall. He was dressed like a knight in black armor with a thick, black cape draped over him that hung down to his feet. His helmet was the most frightening off all: A spiny, black iron mask with two small walnut-shaped holes for eyes and six long, black spokes sticking out of the top of the helmet as if it were a crown. In its left hand, it carried a massive, medieval back club. Giles riveted his fearful eyes down at the right hand of the knight from hell.
Four of its fingers were missing.
They reached the bridge finally as Gandalf directed them past the puddles of fire all around them. Gandalf turned around towards the flames as a mighty, winged beast of hell reared its horned head and breathed flaming air.
"My God," Buffy whispered in utter amazement at the ram-headed beast covered in fire and smoke. "Somehow 'Big Bad' just doesn't cover it..."
"Come on, Buff!" Xander called as she turned and followed the rest of the Fellowship, Gandalf running after them with the Balrog in pursuit. The demon stomped down the hallway towards the bridge, following them closely. They could feel the unbearable heat on their backs as they sped across the narrow bridge over the naked, pitch darkness of the gorge.
Buffy ran to the end of the bridge, being the next-to-last in the Fellowship line as she heard a deafening roar. She froze and spun around to see Gandalf standing in the middle of the bridge, glaring at the Balrog defiantly.
"You cannot pass!" Gandalf declared furiously.
"Gandalf!" Frodo called, as the rest of the Fellowship watched near the exit of the mines.
"Hey, Gandalf!" Buffy hollered. "Hell beast big. Very big! He can do whatever he wants! Let's just get out of here!" Gandalf didn't listen to her. He raised his staff at the fiery demon as it reared up before him, revealing a body of fire.
"I am a servant of the Secret Fire," Gandalf announced, glaring at the Balrog as the end of his staff glowed white, "wielder of the flame of Anor."
Buffy gazed at the Balrog in panic, knowing it was about to kill the wizard. "I really don't think he's interested in your credentials!" she pleaded. "Come on!"
The Balrog suddenly produced a curved sword of fire and raised it high. "The dark fire will not avail you," Gandalf responded, "flame of Udûn!" With a roar, the Balrog brought the sword of fire down on Gandalf, but it was blocked and shattered by an unseen force. Gandalf's staff continued to glow a bright white until it circled him in a brilliant white ball.
"Go back to the Shadow!" Gandalf hissed, glaring at the Balrog.
"He told him..." Xander declared, watching in amazement along with the others. The Balrog pulled out a whip of fire and snapped it loudly across the cavern.
"You..." Gandalf shouted at the top of his lungs, raising his sword and staff in the air, "shall not... pass!" Gandalf shoved the staff into the bridge at his feet as white light erupted from the ground and the Balrog shrunk back and snorted in protest.
The ground beneath the feet of the Balrog suddenly crumbled as half of the bridge collapsed. The Fellowship watched, stunned, as the Balrog slowly began to descend into the darkness, cracking its whip as it disappeared into smoke and shadow.
The deed was done. Gandalf stared down at the demon as it disappeared from his sight and he turned around towards the Fellowship and towards Buffy who stood astonished at the end of the bridge. Gandalf let out a sigh of relief as suddenly, the whip of fire reached out of the shadows and wrapped around the wizard's legs. He dropped his staff and sword as his legs were pulled out from under him and he tumbled off of the end of the bridge, clutching desperately to the edge by his fingers.
The Dark Lord tromped towards the four helpless humans. Every time one of its colossal feet touched the ground, the floorboards would break and snap under the pressure. Riley stared up in stunned horror as the knight reared its club back, aiming for him.
"No!" Buffy screamed as she charged towards the bridge. She was yanked back and held there by Boromir who desperately hung on to her, shouting in her ear.
"No, Buffy!" he declared. "You cannot help him!"
Frodo sped past the rest of the Fellowship; no one was there to hold him back. Spike turned to see the hobbit run towards Gandalf, but appeared in a flash and grabbed him by the hood of his cloak. He clutched him by his shoulders and pulled him back as well.
With one horrendous blow, Riley was batted across the store and smashed against the wall, breaking plaster and bricks off with him as he crashed to the floor. Giles tackled Anya and Tara out of the way as the knight entered the room and swung his club again. A force-field erupted from the club, shattering and crushing everything in its path.
The walls of the store cracked and the furniture was blown to bits. The glass exploded and shattered as Giles, Anya and Tara desperately shrunk to the ground as if a hurricane was battering down on top of them. They could hear nothing but endless crashing and exploding as the very floor itself gave way next to the Dark Lord. The glass counter was ripped out of the floor and thrown across the room like a small toy, smashing against the wall.
Terrified, Tara gawked at the monstrous knight as it stared down at them. She feared that it would come for them and deal the same kind of punishment it had shown Riley. It did not, though. It continued to stare at them... and then gazed down at its own six-fingered hands.
The Dark Lord slowly began to fade away and become translucent. He turned around towards the roaring vortex portal behind him, and slowly marched towards it. He disappeared into the fiery, swirling cloud and it, too, faded away – closing the bridge between the two worlds. The fiery light disappeared, the thunder stopped booming, the lighting stopped flashing and the wind stopped howling.
Not a sound could be heard inside of the store.
The Fellowship quietly watched Gandalf as he stared at him, glaring into their eyes. "Fly, you fools," he declared with the last ounce of hope he had for himself, and let go of the edge of the bridge.
"No!" Frodo screamed, his voice twisted with torment as he watched the wizard disappear into the darkness. Buffy was still and quiet and could hear no other sounds beside her own heartbeat. Her vision was blurred by tears that ran cold down her hot face as she motionlessly stared at the edge of the bridge.
Somewhere in the back of her mind, she could hear Frodo's screams of agony and footsteps up the stairs leading out of the exit, but they were no more than faint whispers. She felt herself being moved and her feet moving too, but it was not until she pulled her eyes away from the bridge to see that Boromir was pulling her out of the cavern.
They passed Aragorn, who stood at the edge as more orc arrows whizzed past them, and he stared motionlessly at the bridge as well. "Aragorn!" Legolas called, catching his attention. He glanced back at the exit, then turned to the bridge, and then finally began to run out of the mines after Buffy, Boromir and Legolas escaped as well.
Tara picked herself off of the ground. She was somewhere near the door to the basement of the store. She felt blood on her face and hands and pushed herself off of the glass she was lying on as it pierced her torso. Her chest ached as she breathed and she glared around the Magic Box in fear.
The portal was gone. All was still. The windows of the store were blown out as they poured sunlight into the front room, where a cloud of dirty dust covered everywhere she could see. Somewhere through the dust she could see sparks and a small fire burning and she gazed around in terror as the memory of what had happened came back to her.
"Riley..." she coughed with dread. "Riley!" Tara was barely able to stand, yet she moved slowly towards the place where she saw Riley fall, next to the front door. She felt around in the darkness of the dust cloud as her hand touched a puddle of warm blood.
She followed the path of blood up to a body and gazed down to see that it was Riley. He was motionless and quiet and as she touched his shirt she could feel it soaked with blood.
"Help!" Tara looked up and called out through the store as if she were shouting in the middle of a field. "He's not breathing! Help!"
She could hear no reply.
They sat outside of exit to the mines as daylight poured down on them. Buffy's legs felt like butter as she tried to walk among the rocks. They were in front of a spectacular mountain vista as wind blew passed them, yet she felt as if she were suffocating.
It was a while before she noticed that tears were falling down her face. Something had gone monumentally wrong, and in her heart she knew it was her fault. Maybe if she had been the one at the end of the line... Maybe if she had gone back and pulled Gandalf away from the battle with the Balrog... Maybe if she had gone after him when he fell...
She was the Slayer. The hero. The champion. And it was because of her that she and her friends were cast into this dimension. Maybe things would have been different if they had never come...
Spike words rang in her mind: 'We're not even supposed to be here!'
He was right. Oh, God, was he right... "I could've saved him," Buffy breathed, her stomach twisting with sickness, "I could've saved him..."
Buffy turned away to hear the sounds of sobs. Sam dropped down, sitting on a rock with his hand to his head as tears fell from his eyes. Xander, looking more drained than she had ever seen him be, stood beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder. Buffy turned further to see Pippin crying uncontrollably while Merry had his hand on his friend's arm. Willow kneeled down beside Pippin as she slowly wrapped his bloody arm with a makeshift bandage, silent tears falling down her cheeks as well.
Aragorn turned around with resolve and declared, "Legolas, get them up." Legolas slightly turned looked over at him suddenly, as if being snapped out of his own remorseful daze. Still wearing an expression clouded with disbelief, he moved slowly towards the hobbits.
"Give them a moment for pity's sake!" Boromir snapped, glaring at Aragorn.
"By nightfall these hills will be swarming with orcs," he declared, keeping his position. "We must reach the woods of Lothlórien." Aragorn sheathed his sword and Boromir said nothing in reply. "Come, Boromir. Legolas... Gimli..." Aragorn ordered them all, and then turned to the tired-looking, defeated, blonde-haired little girl who felt very much alone. "Buffy," he added, "get them up."
Xander, sporting a bruise under his right eye, looked down at Sam and tapped him on the shoulder, "Come on. Get up, man." Sam nodded sadly and pushed himself into standing up. With a swollen lower lip, Willow extended her hand and helped Pippin stand up as Merry stood alongside him. A few feet away, Spike silently stared out at the mountains with his hands on his hips. Blood rested on his brow as he let his eyes fall to the ground. A few moments later, he sighed and slowly followed them, trekking across the rocky terrain.
Buffy gazed around, still in a daze, and softly called, "Frodo?" She turned to the brown-haired hobbit as he slowly walked towards the edge of the cliff away from them. "Frodo!" she called and he stopped.
Buffy watched as he very slowly turned his head towards her and she saw in his deep, blue eyes a large fraction of the pain and torment she had remembered from her vision. Her heart broke as she watched a tear roll down his face and she longed more than ever to be home.
Where she could forget...