Chapter 2
Willow splashed her feet in the water and giggled a little as she felt fish swimming around just beneath her toes. The Fellowship had set up camp for the night and Willow had been the first to rush to the stream and soak her feet. Her small incantations as they walked had helped her from developing blisters or having really sore muscles but her feet still ached a little.
The Fellowship was nice, she had decided. They had fully explained the story of Sauran, The Ring, and their quest to her and she had figured it was in her line of work. She was pretty much helping to stop an apocalypse of sorts.
Tara plopped down next to her, soaking her feet in the water as well.
"Hey" Willow greeted, glad to have a moment alone with her girlfriend. She leaned over to give Tara a kiss and was surprised when Tara pushed her away and glanced backwards nervously.
"Willow" she whispered. "I-I don't think we can do that here."
"Well, a stream isn't really the best place to get all snuggly-wuggly, but I did here that Legolas guy talk about bedrolls."
"N-No! I Mean, Willow, this place isn't like our dimension. I-I've listened to these men talking. Everything is...male to female. I'm not sure h-how they'd react."
"Who cares what they think? We'll just have to broaden their minds. I mean, they don't think girls can fight either.."
"Willow, No!" Tara persisted. "T-their culture is different than ours. What if they reacted violently? We can't be responsible for changing their entire culture either. Things, they just aren't done the same way here. It would be like taking a car back to the 1600's. I told them we were simply close friends. And while we're here it should stay that way."
Willow was taken aback. "Tara, baby. Are-are you ashamed?"
"Of course not!. I just don't want to cause trouble. Even, even if these guys didn't mind, doesn't mean others won't. We're just gonna cool it while we're here ok?" She smiled at Willow bumped their feet together under the water.
"Alright. If you think it's best. I can do a few weeks without snuggles." She smiled slyly at Tara and ran her toes up Tara's ankle.
They gathered their shoes and walked back to camp together. Legolas and Aragorn had started a fire and most of the Fellowship was seated around it. Sam was trying to find food everyone agreed on.
"Do you like stew with tomatoes?" Sam asked the girls when he saw them.
"Sounds great" Willow said, she took a seat on one of the logs they had pulled up. She saw Tara sit down next to Borimir and frowned when she saw his smile grow and him scoot closer to her.
"So, are any of you guys married?" She asked. She particularly wanted to know about Borimir. She wasn't entirely happy with the way he was looking at her girl and even if they had to pretend to be straight girls, Tara was still hers at the end of the day.
"Nay, but Aragorn has a girl he fancies." Frodo answered, and smiled a little as Aragorn glared.
"Do either of you have suitors or husbands?" Borimir asked. He asked both of them, but Willow knew his question was directed at Tara. She thought fast, and was about to proclaim Tara was married to Xander when Tara shook her head.
"No, Willow and I don't have anyone. W-we aren't really interested in that sort of thing."
Willow was semi satisfied with this answer. Until Borimir chuckled and proclaimed they would have to take a husband eventually. She was about to give him a piece of her mind when Sam handed her a bowl of stew and declared it was eating time. She settled for feeding her hungry stomach and making sure to keep an eye on this Borimir guy.
The next few days seemed to go rather quickly. They traveled from morning til night each day. Willow and Tara had a small game going on between them. Matching up the personalities of the Fellowship with those of the Scoobies back home.
"Aragorn has that whole Buffy vibe, Hero, plus in love with an immortal. And Gandalf is kinda Giles-y, don't ya think? The Hobbits are totally like mini Xanders. So Funny, and did you see how much they can eat?!" Willow babbled on as she and Tara washed up in a small river.
"What about Legolas? Who does he remind you of?" Tara piled her wet hair on top of her head and dried herself off.
Willow was silent. Secretly, Legolas reminded her of Oz. A lot. Quiet, stoic, but friendly towards everyone, and even though he didn't talk much, when he did it was usually something worth listening to. But she was hesitant to bring up Oz's name.
Tara must have read her mind. "Oz, right? I kinda get that vibe off him too. W-Willow, it's ok. To think about Oz. And to say his name. I know he was a big part of your life."
"Yeah, Sorry. I wasn't sure..." She trailed off, leaving an awkward silence. "So who does Borimir remind you of?"
Tara noticed her attempt to lighten the mood and went along with it. "Definetly Anya. I can tell he values his heritage and money, and he's not afraid to speak his mind." She adjusted her clothes and handed Willow's clothes to her.
Willow dried off and put her clothes back on. "Yeah, the whole greedy thing too. I overheard that he wanted to use the ring to his own advantage and they are worried he'll be tempted to take it."
"I-I don't think he would. He just wants to help his people." Tara pulled her hair into a ponytail.
Willow was a little shocked. And a little jealous. She'd feel better if the guy who wanted her girl was someone Tara despised.
"Yeah, looks like he wants "help" you too." She felt instantly guilty. The remark was catty and full of jealousy.
"Willow, you're my always. I-I know he looks at me sometimes. B-but I love you. and in a few weeks I won't ever see him again. Nothing will ever come between us."
Willow smiled, feeling her heart swell with pride. Maybe she didn't have to worry too much about Borimir.
Days passed. After discovering the South was being watched, Gandalf decided to go over the mountain. Willow wasn't exactly thrilled about going over a mountain but figured if she had to, she could do it.
As they reached the base of the mountain, Willow stopped short.
"Uh whoa there. That's not a mountain it's more like an iceberg!" She glanced up at the tall mountain of ice and snow.
"You're clothing is not suitable for crossing Caradhas. We must find you something warmer and sturdier." Gandalf said.
"You may borrow some things of mine" Legolas offered.
"No need. I can just conjure us up some things." Willow was ecstatic to be able to use some magic. Closing her eyes, she conjured up warm pants, coats, and boots for herself and Tara.
"You make something out of nothing!" cried Legolas. "You must be a truly powerful witch."
Willow shrugged. "I don't like to brag. We'll just go change behind those bushes."
They stepped behind the bushes and Willow pulled off her shoes slid on the pants and boots.
"Willow, we could have just borrowed something." Tara said softly.
"But these actually fit us. And are probably warmer."
"Willow you don't need magic for everything." Her voice was urgent and angry.
Willow's eyes snapped up and caught a glimpse of the anger in Tara's.
"Tara, what's wrong? I-I was just trying to help."
"You're always just trying to help." Tara, now clothed in the wintry gear, stepped out and joined the Fellowship again.
Willow joined them too. She was so confused. She and Tara did magic all the time together and now Tara was saying she shouldn't be using it. She walked on, trying to force back the feelings of wanting to burst into tears and throw herself into Tara's arms. She huddled her arms around herself as they ascended.
Several hours later she was rubbing her hands together furiously to try and get the feeling back in them. When the neared the top of the mountain, it had produced avalanche after avalanche. Gandalf declared it the work of the enemy and decided they would rest for a few hours before taking the mines underneath the mountain. Willow admitted she was nervous about it. Gandalf seemed unwilling to do it and no one but Gimli was really thrilled about it either.
"Are you well, my lady?"
Legolas sat down next to her and gave her a worried glance.
She smiled at him reassuringly. "I'm of the good. Still a little cold from the mountain though."
He nodded and pointed at her hands. "You should have conjured gloves with your outfits."
"Well I didn't think of that. And Tara wasn't exactly happy about me conjuring the outfits."
"I am aware of your argument with your friend. I do not wish to take sides, but I would have shared my things, and I do not wish for you to drain yourself of power over little things. The Mines of Moria are dangerous and I fear you will need your powers for defense."
She wanted so much to be angry with him for butting in. Aragorn told her of Elves hearing and she figured he'd heard their arguments, but she had counted on him being too polite to bring it up. But his blue eyes were boring into her green ones and she saw he was really concerned she would tire herself out. Another Oz like quality, she mused.
"Well thanks, but uh, I'm fine. And even if I can't use my powers, I'm not too sucky at hand to hand combat either. The place where I grew up wasn't the safest."
He seemed ok with that. He kind of half-smiled at her and moved away to do some bow and arrow practice. Gandalf called for them to get moving, that the mines would take a long time to cross. Hesitantly, she fell in step with Tara. Tara looked over at her, but didn't smile or say anything.
The mines made Willow shiver. She could feel something dark and powerful in there. As Gandalf pondered how to get the door to open, Merry and Pippin threw rocks into the water. Willow tried to concentrate on Tara. She wanted to open a communication between them so they could speak in their heads, away from the ears of prying Elves. But Tara was not having any of it.
She heard Frodo's cry for help and spun around. A tentacle snaked around her ankle and she found herself falling. She cried out as her shoulder and head smashed into the stone and she choked as water filled her mouth and nose. Struggling to get her bearings without taking in too much water, she popped her head above water. She saw Legolas shooting arrows at the monster while Aragorn and Borimir hacking at the tentacles.
The monster dragged her towards it mouth and Willow shuddered at its rows of teeth.
"Fragilis!" she called, a ball of light appeared in her hand and shot towards the monster's mouth. Upon impact it let out a screeching noise and released her ankle. She scrambled towards shore as she saw Aragorn catch a falling Frodo. Arms pulled her out of the water and threw a cloak around her shivering body. She looked up, hoping it would be Tara. But instead she found herself looking into the sky blue eyes of Legolas. Glancing over her shoulder, Tara had her arm out and was muttering a spell to put a force field between them and the monster.
Rushing everyone into the cave, Aragorn cringed as the monster went through Tara's barrier and crashed into the cave. The entrance collapsed, effectively forcing them to go through Moria.