Title: Miles to Go

By: Ring Red

Disclaimer: I own NOTHING! *sniffle*

Rating: R (for later chapters and language)

Feedback: Thank you everyone who reviewed! I promised to do better this chapter and I will...so here goes! I'm glad everyone seems to be enjoying the bet idea and jealous Legolas - expect to see more of both in the next few chapters. Willow and Dawn are both going to jump into that bet. They both want to win and they're not adverse to nudging Buffy in their direction. At this point Buffy just likes Haldir (and not in a sexual way really) because he was nice to her. The Mirkwood Elves made a horrible impression on Buffy, then when she arrived in Rivendell the Elves there were curious, but kinda distant for a while. Buffy is not used to Elves just meeting her and being nice immediately. Since Buffy isn't being openly hostile toward Haldir and his brothers (which is her normal reaction to Elves) Legolas is going to read too much into her behavior. He overheard her sisters' opinions and now he's getting a little paranoid. Friendly Buffy does not necessarily mean Smitten Buffy, but Legolas doesn't get that. As for if more than friendly might come into play later? We'll see. Haldir can be awful cute and charming...

I got a few comments on whether the sisters will save Boromir and Haldir (if he shows up at Helms Deep). I can only say 'wait and see' at this point, but the Gandalf situation is quite different from those two. Gandalf will be back and the sisters know that. Gandalf had to fall or he never would've become White and that could've changed the outcome of the war. I'm not saying that they CAN save Boromir or Haldir even if they want to, but I don't know that they're capable of just letting them die.

AND...I'm still getting favorable comments about Dawn. YAY! I like my Dawn. I'm glad you do too! She's not going anywhere...lol...

Well, that's that. THANK YOU for the great reviews! PLEASE send more my way! You totally keep me going! This chapter is a little shorter than usual, but that's because I split a really long chapter in half to post it...lol...hope you like it anyway. Keep sending me feedback and I'll try to keep the chapters coming.

And on to the story...

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Chapter Ten

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The next morning the three sisters and the hobbits were reunited with the rest of their companions. Buffy walked over to join Aragorn and Legolas. "The orcs that were after us came through during the night. Did you hear?"

Legolas nodded. "It was during my watch that they passed beneath us."

"Haldir says they'll be taken care of by more of the Elves." Buffy told them. "Orophin went back to warn their people so it should be all good."

Aragorn looked at the slayer curiously. "You are getting along well with Haldir and his brothers then?"

Buffy nodded eagerly. "Oh yeah, Haldir is totally cool. He's going to tell me and Will and Dawnie all about Lothlorien today while he leads us through it. Then he wants to hear about Sunnydale and our world." She smiled as she turned and waved happily at Haldir where he stood talking with his remaining brother. The marchwarden returned her smile and nodded back. Buffy looked back at Aragorn and Legolas. "I'm gonna go help Will and Dawnie get ready. Haldir says we need to get moving soon." She skipped off to her sisters.

"There, Legolas, you see," Aragorn told the Prince calmly, "your worry was for naught. All is well. Indeed, the courtesy and manners of the Lorien Elves may yet break even Slayer of her aversion to your people." He patted the Elf on the back.

Legolas shot the ranger a dark look before he quickly schooled his expression back to neutrality. "We must prepare to leave. We would not wish to keep Haldir waiting." He walked away.

Aragorn frowned after him confused. Boromir, having overheard the conversation between the ranger and the Elf, just shook his head and shot the ranger a sympathetic look as he walked past.

Shortly thereafter the company set out on their march again with Haldir and RĂºmil leading the way. The three sisters walked at the front for a change and as promised Haldir regaled them with facts and stories about his people. Legolas walked behind the merry group and remained silent. Buffy frowned back at him. The Prince hadn't sniped at her once today. What was his problem? She quickly dismissed the thought from her mind. What did she care what his problem was? He was just a pointy-eared pest, after all. Yes, she was coming to realize that maybe not all people of the pointy-eared persuasion were without their good qualities and they were unfailingly yummy to look at, but...well that didn't apply to her Elven nemesis. He was different. Okay, so he might not be all that different on the yummy front, but...

Buffy snapped herself from that line of thought. She did not even want to contemplate that line of thought. That line of thought led to all kinds of badness. The slayer pointedly made herself tune back in to Haldir's current story about their surroundings. These guys really did spend a lot of time thinking about trees, didn't they?

After a few hours of travel the company reached the river Celebrant. Haldir explained that they would have to cross it. He then called to another Elf hidden on the other side who came forward with some rope. With three pieces of rope and some creative tying the fellowship were able to maneuver their way across the rushing water below. When they all had their feet down on solid ground again the real trouble began. It was time to blindfold Gimli.

"The agreement was made without my consent." The dwarf told them. "I will not walk blindfold, like a beggar or a prisoner. I am no more likely to betray you than Legolas, or any other of my companions."

Haldir stood firm and things almost turned ugly when Gimli reached for his ax and the Elves their bows. Legolas grumbled about the stiff necks of dwarves. Thankfully Aragorn suggested they all go blindfolded instead. It was not fair to make only Gimli walk blindfolded, the entire company would join him. Legolas was less happy with this arrangement, but Aragorn commented on the stiff necks of Elves and the Prince reluctantly agreed. Haldir pulled out the strips of cloth and blindfolded everyone.

Buffy sighed as she walked carefully forward through the artificial darkness. They all walked single-file now and Buffy had her hand on Dawn's shoulder before her while Legolas rested his on Buffy's from behind. The darkness wasn't alarming so much as annoying to the slayer. She'd spent countless days training with Giles in just such a condition in the past. Still, when you could not interest yourself with your surroundings you had to focus on other things and for Buffy those things were not of the good. Her other senses were already on alert to compensate for the lack of sight and this brought disturbing new problems into play. Problems like how warm and right Legolas' hand felt on her shoulder. Just the knowledge of whom the hand belonged to made the skin beneath her tunic tingle and butterflies flutter in her stomach.

What was wrong with her? Damn it! She was not attracted to the pointy-eared pest! She could just picture the smug look on his heart-wrenchingly perfect face if he even imagined she might want him. Those beautiful blue eyes of his glowing with satisfaction and awareness, his lips tilted up at the corners in that adorable way they did whenever he scored a particularly good barb against her, that arrogant strut in his step as he walked forward to stop just a little too close for comfort and lift his hand to trace her lips with his fingertips as she trembled in anticipation...BAD BAD BAD! Oh, this was so not of the good. Must think of something besides yummy Elf with his hand on shoulder... "So, Haldir, tell me more about these trees."

The hand on Buffy's shoulder tightened for a moment before relaxing once again...and was it her imagination or did Legolas just growl?

When the company settled down that night they slept in the order that they marched and remained blindfolded. Buffy made herself as comfortable as possible beside Dawn and tried to forget Legolas lay not two feet from the left of her pallet. Haldir unwittingly helped with this dilemma when he requested to hear of the three sisters' world. The hobbits and Gimli seconded his request and begged that they pick back up with the stories they abandoned before entering the mines of Moria. Aragorn and Legolas were interested as well for they now knew the tales were based in truth.

"Okay," Willow sighed, "where did we leave off?"

Dawn frowned. "Right before Bu...I mean, right before Slayer died, right?"

"Died?" Merry and Pippin squeaked.

Buffy grinned. "Yep, and that was just the first time I died. I'm up to what - three now, Wills?"

"Yep," Willow smirked, "you've got Dawn and I beat by two."

The four hobbits began to ask questions all at once. Gimli cut them off. "Woulda ya just continue with your tale now lassies?"

"Sure, Gim," Buffy said. "Anyway, I guess that picks up right before the big dance. It was this huge deal at school and everyone wanted to go. I was no exception. Sure, I was the Slayer, but I was still a sixteen-year-old girl. I wanted to dress up and look pretty and dance with hot guys...or one particular room temperature guy at any rate."

Dawn giggled and put on her best dreamy voice. "Angel..." Willow joined Dawn's giggles.

Buffy rolled her eyes and reached over blindly to whap them both. "But there was one small glitch in my plans..." She let her words trail off.

"Well?" Merry questioned. "What glitch?" Pippin echoed. "What's a glitch?" Sam whispered to Frodo.

Buffy grinned. "I was destined to die that night and dying was not really high up on my 'fun-things-to-do' list." It amazed the slayer that she could talk about the Master so calmly now. For so long the memory had haunted her, but now? She was honestly over it. Realizing that was like a weight lifting from her shoulders. "Wanna pick up there, Wills?"

"Sure," the witch answered. "So, it really all started with an earthquake. One thing you should note for future reference is that an earthquake in Sunnydale always means the end of the world. It's like - a rule."

Buffy and Dawn chuckled. "She's completely serious, too." Buffy told them.

"Of course." Willow sounded affronted at the thought that any of their companions could doubt her. "But back to the story - there was an earthquake one night while we were at the Bronze. We didn't think anything of it at the time, because we didn't yet know of the afore-mentioned rule. To us it just meant that the Bronze would probably have a 'Pre-Earthquake Cleanup' party and a 'Post-Earthquake-Cleanup' party which meant cheaper drinks." (Buffy snorted her agreement) "To Giles this earthquake meant something entirely different - it meant the beginning of a prophecy that ended with the death of the Slayer, the release of the Master, and the opening of the Hellmouth." Willow nudged Dawn.

The youngest sister picked up the story. "Yeah, so Buffy's hoping Angel shows up at the dance (Buffy whapped Dawn again), Xander's trying to get up the nerve to ask Buffy himself, and Willow's pining for Xander to ask her instead (Willow whapped Dawn), while Giles is wigging over impending doom. Buffy finally let Xander down gently and headed off to the library. Unfortunately she walked in right as Giles and Angel were talking about her destiny to croak (Both Buffy and Willow whapped Dawn)." Dawn paused to laugh and whap both of her sisters. "And Buffy upon hearing this delightful news promptly freaks."

Buffy snorted. "Yeah, cause hearing some old book says you're going to die is such a soothing revelation."

"Please," Dawn drawled, "name a book that doesn't say you're going to die."

Willow giggled. "She has a point."

"ANYWAY," Buffy picked back up the tale. "I didn't take the news well. I told Giles I quit being the Slayer and - I might have chunked a few books at his head."

Willow giggled again. "Poor Giles. First you threw his precious books and then you knocked him out before going off to meet the Master."

Buffy frowned and pouted before she realized no one could see it. "Hey, it was a very emotional time."

Dawn snorted. "Personally, I think you just had PMS." Buffy reached over to whap her again. Sam whispered to Frodo. "What's PMS?" This had the three sisters giggling again.

Roughly twenty minutes later the sisters were finishing up their story.

"So, basically it turned out to be a pretty good night in Sunnydale." Buffy sighed. "Xander and I defeated death, I kicked the Master's ass, the Scoobies got to party hard at the dance, and EVERYONE loved my dress."

Dawn rolled her eyes beneath her blindfold. "I think saving the world should be in that list somewhere - preferably before your dress."

Buffy frowned. "It was an awesome dress."

"It was." Willow agreed. "Even the Master liked that dress."

Pippin spoke up and his voice was teasing. "You mean Slayer actually wore a dress? I cannot imagine. What about you Merry?"

"Nope." Merry agreed. "Not even in my wildest moments."

Buffy smirked. "You have wild moments?" Several of the companions muffled laughter.

"Hey," Pippin jumped in to defend his friend. "There's more to us hobbits than meets the eye." The companions all burst into laughter, then calmed themselves and assured Pippin that they believed him.

The group grew sleepy and fell silent. Haldir spoke softly. "Your world sounds - interesting, Slayer." Buffy realized that she'd completely forgotten the presence of the Lorien Elves while they told their story. She turned her head in the direction of his voice. "Interesting is one word."

The marchwarden sounded thoughtful. "You have carried much weight for one so young in years and yet you continue to survive and embrace life. Warriors with such courage and perseverance are rare indeed."

Buffy frowned. Haldir, it seemed, was not fooled by their light tone and teasing. He understood, as the hobbits could not, just how horrifying that episode had been when it actually happened. Buffy shook her head. "Nope. I'm just stubborn. I refuse to let them win."

"In what way?" Legolas spoke for the first time in hours.

She considered how to explain. "If I break, if I lay down and just quit then they win. I've almost done just that a few times in my life. Thankfully I had the best friends in any world there to pick me back up." Buffy felt Willow reach over and take her hand. Dawn clasped hers on top. Buffy smiled and continued. "But if I fight and keep going, even if I die in the process, then they'll never really beat me. I am the Slayer. I am a champion for the Light. If I'm going down then it will damn well be fighting and I'm taking as many of them as I can down with me."

"And we'll be right beside you." There were tears in Willow's voice.

Buffy smiled and felt her own eyes sting. "You always have been, Will. Don't you know that?" Willow dove over to hug Buffy tightly and then Dawn squeezed in. The youngest sister sniffled. "I'm in it too now, Buffy." Buffy nodded. "I know, Dawnie."

"We'll all be there lassie." Gimli's voice was gruff with emotion. "You're not fighting this war alone."

"Aye," Aragorn agreed. "This is not even your war, Slayer, but we are proud to have you and your sisters by our side."

Boromir snorted obviously trying to lighten the mood. "I almost find myself feeling sorry for the orcs."

The members of the company chuckled.

Willow and Dawn settled onto their own pallets and Buffy sighed and leaned back. She froze as she felt a warm hand clasp hers gently. A reluctant smile tugged at her lips and she squeezed Legolas' hand back before releasing it. Speaking up and actively declaring his feelings like Gimli and Aragorn obviously asked too much of the Elf. Still, it was the thought that counted, right? Then she frowned. Of course, now she was back to being uber-aware of the Elven hotness laying less than two feet from her. Damn, it was going to be a long night.

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End of Chapter

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Ring Red