Chapter Fourteen
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Willow paced anxiously back and forth across the pavilion. Her mind ran over a million horrific possibilities. What could have happened? Oh goddess, they couldn't lose her. They just couldn't. The door clicked open behind her. Willow spun around and looked desperately into Aragorn's eyes. "Well? Did they find her? Did you speak with Lady Galadriel?"
Aragorn kept his expression neutral. "I did not speak with the Lady personally, but she sent a message to me. Slayer is well. She is safe and will come to no harm. That is all she would impart at this time. Slayer's disappearance is of her own choosing and the Lady says it is not her place to reveal your sister's location or her motivations."
"THAT ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH!" Willow raged. "You don't know Buffy. She's been upset, very upset since we got here. Dawnie and I couldn't figure out why. We thought, we hoped, that her sparring with Haldir was helping but now she's just disappeared! Buffy disappearing is never a good thing. I have to find her." She stormed past the future king and out the door.
Reaching up to rub his eyes, Aragorn sighed. He'd gotten the impression that Galadriel was more amused than alarmed by Slayer's disappearance. He prayed that impression was correct.
The door opened again. This time Aara walked in followed by Boromir. Aragorn gave the man of Gondor a thoughtful glance. Something weighed on Boromir of late and Aragorn feared he knew what it was. At the moment the Steward's Heir watched Aara with a mix of sympathy and reluctant amusement. He felt Aragorn's eyes upon him and met the Ranger's stare. "What word from the Lady?"
Dawn's eyes snapped in Aragorn's direction. They were wide and hopeful. "Did she find Buffy?"
Aragorn bit back a sigh before he explained once again. "The Lady has located your sister, but will not reveal that location. She assures that no harm has come or will come to Slayer and that the disappearance is of her own choosing."
"WHAT?" Aara expression twisted in outrage. "Are you freakin' insane? Buffy would not just take off like this! She wouldn't leave me!" She looked down and Aragorn could no longer see her expression. When she spoke her voice was small and frail. "She wouldn't leave us." Then she balled her hands into fists and met his gaze again. Her eyes were wet with tears, but they glowed with determination. "She wouldn't leave us. I know Buffy's been down since we got here, but things were getting better! She was hitting it off with Haldir and enjoying the sparring!" Her eyes pleaded with him for reassurance. "She wouldn't leave us."
"Then perhaps she did not." Boromir spoke up calmly. Aara turned to face him and he smiled slightly. "Have you and your sister considered that Slayer may be otherwise occupied at the moment? That she may not have actually left or been taken? The Lady assures that Slayer is safe. She will not reveal your sister's location, but she does not say that Slayer has left Caras Galadhon. Perhaps Slayer is still safe within the city and will return to you in her own time."
Dawn frowned. "Why the hell would Buffy do that? That isn't like her. She was upset. She just stormed off yesterday from sparring and didn't come back! Why would she do that?"
"Well..." Boromir began and then trailed off awkwardly.
Aragorn's eyes narrowed as he looked at Boromir. Was the Steward's Heir actually nervous? An idea began to form in the Ranger's mind. He looked to the anxious figure of Aara and felt his cheeks heat. Eru, if it be true - how would they explain THAT to her?
"Perhaps she is upset no longer." Boromir told the beautiful young woman carefully. "She may be more - pleasantly occupied."
Aragorn mentally cursed as he felt his cheeks heat even further. He would rather take on a rogue pack of orcs than be part of this conversation.
Dawn frowned confused. "More pleasantly occupied? Pleasantly occupied doing what?" She looked at Boromir and his pained expression. She looked at Aragorn and his flushed cheeks. What could... "Oh!" She winced and felt her own cheeks heat. "Oh, THAT pleasantly occupied. She's..." The men looked horrified at how she might end that sentence. She couldn't really blame them. This conversation was SO not in the books and movies. Her faced burned and she reached up to cover it with her hands. "I'm going to kill her!"
Aragorn grew concerned. "Lady Aara, I know that your sister's behavior might be distressing to you, but it is perfectly natural. A warrior such as your sister sometimes needs to find comfort in the arms of another."
Boromir stared at Aragorn in shock. The future king winced. He couldn't believe he'd spoken thus to an innocent young lady either.
"Huh?" Dawn just stared at him. "I'm not distressed because Buffy's gettin' some." Both men paled. "It's been six long cranky years. God knows she NEEDS some. I'm distressed because the hag didn't tell Willow and I where she would be. We've been worried sick!" Then her eyes widened. "Oh holy freakin' crap! Willow! Willow's going to find Buffy and...oh holy freakin' crap!" She ran for the door. She had to find her sister.
Aragorn watched her departure before looking back to Boromir. "I suppose, as gentlemen, we should follow and assist the lady."
Boromir lifted a brow. "I'm a warrior, not a gentleman."
Rolling his eyes, Aragorn headed for the door.
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"Hmm..." Buffy purred and arched her neck as her lover lazily explored the sensitive skin with his lips and tongue. She ran her fingers through his gorgeous long hair and sighed. "You know...I used to be blonde."
Legolas pulled back resting his weight on his elbows and smirked as he met her gaze. "Is this a point for deep contemplation?"
Buffy mock glared. "I miss being blonde."
"Your hair was blonde when first we met." Legolas reminded her teasingly of their less-than-poetic beginning. "I prefer the brown."
Rolling her eyes, Buffy yanked his hair lightly. "That had nothing to do with hair color and everything to do with you being an annoying, arrogant..." she gasped as her Pest resumed his earlier path and nipped at a particularly delicious spot beneath her right ear, "pointy-eared," he sucked lightly on the spot and Buffy's voice turned dreamy, "...pest."
Moving up the Prince drew her earlobe between his lips and stroked it with his tongue. Another breathy sigh escaped the slayer and he smiled. "Am I still a pest?"
"Uh huh," Buffy answered with a slow nod, "unbearably irritating. Don't know how I stomach you." Legolas continued his attentions to Buffy's ear. He ran his tongue up the round arch. Shifting his weight to the side, he also slid one hand beneath the blankets that covered them. Buffy moaned as talented fingers found another wicked spot to tease. "That helps..." Legolas grinned again, but the expression melted into one of lust as Buffy dipped her hands beneath the blankets as well. Banter forgotten the Prince and Slayer reimmersed themselves in each other and fulfilling their long-fought desires.
Some time later, Buffy glowed with satisfaction as snuggled her head onto Legolas' shoulder. "So...that stuff about Elves and desire, is that true?"
Legolas was unsure whether to be insulted or not. Did she doubt his word? "I would not lie to you, Buffy."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "I know that. I'm just making conversation - or actually I'm aiming for a point."
"What point?"
"If Elves are all about the 'more-than-appearance' then why were you jealous of Haldir? I mean, if you didn't think he was all obsessed with my body, then what was the trauma?"
Smiling softly Legolas kissed the top of her head. "Elves desire as strongly as any race, Buffy. That those desires are not based mainly on physical beauty makes them no less potent."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "But I still don't get your problem with Haldir."
Frowning, Legolas tilted his Slayer's face up and met her eyes with his own. "If you believe that only your appearance can inspire desire and passion, Buffy - you are wrong. You have a fire within you, a fire of life, strength, and love. Your fire is far more intoxicating than any fair features could ever be." Buffy smiled slightly and blushed before breaking eye contact to look down. Legolas kissed her forehead. "I admit I reacted poorly, but Haldir is by no means immune to you, dagnir nîn, and I feared his ability to charm you."
"Hey," Buffy crawled over to straddle the Prince's chest. She leaned down and kissed him deeply. "Haldir's cool as a friend, but I only have one pointy-eared Pest." Legolas stared hungrily at her naked form above him. Buffy felt lust surge back to life under his gaze. She sighed. "God, we're like never leaving this talan again are we?" Legolas only smiled and rocked his hips.
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Willow frowned hard as she trailed after the glowing dot of light. It didn't make any sense, did it? Why was it going up the path into the city? Could Galadriel's brand of magic be making her spell go wonky? Still, she couldn't quit following it now. She had to find Buffy.
"Lady Tasere," Haldir followed after Willow reluctantly, "what is this magic?" The marchwarden had noticed the distressed witch searching for her sister earlier. He'd tried in vain to turn the woman from the search, but she would not be swayed. Haldir inwardly cringed at the thought of the scene Tasere was doomed to interrupt should she succeed.
"A locator spell." Willow told him curtly. She was just about tired of the marchwarden. Didn't he have woods to guard or something?
Haldir blanched. "And these spells are accurate?"
Willow nodded. "Normally. This one might be off though." She frowned as the little dot of light continued to float forward through the winding path up into the trees and the heart of the city. "Don't know why it's coming up here." She shrugged and walked on.
Fighting for patience, Haldir reached up and rubbed his hand over his eyes. "Perhaps Arato has come this way." He rather hoped not.
"That would be the point of the spell." Willow tried to sound perky and confident. She felt neither.
They reached the great talan, but still the dot floated past and onto a narrow walkway leading ever higher. Willow frowned. They were running out of city here.
The path ended at a large talan with a small house built off to the back. Haldir knew that the house was meant for visitors to the Golden Wood. In more joyful years, the house had been ever occupied by some party of guests or another, but dark times were upon them. The house was practically abandoned for visitors were rarely welcomed now in Lorien.
As they reached the edge of the talan, Haldir's sensitive Elven ears picked up unmistakable sounds in the air. He shot Tasere a panicked look and tried one last time to avert disaster. "Perhaps Arato does not wish to be found. Perhaps she wishes for solitude - time alone to think."
Willow shrugged unconcerned. She followed the dot with her eyes as it sped toward the house and through an open window. "She'll get over it."
Haldir felt anger boil within him. "You are the most stubborn female I have ever met!"
The witch simply shot him a perky smile. "Thank you." She jogged after the dot before he could stop her. She didn't know why, but she knew he wanted to stop her. Had she taken the time to rationally consider Haldir's reasoning she might have spared herself and the marchwarden a very awkward moment. Willow froze as the scene through the window slowly registered through her brain. There was Buffy. She was safe and sound...and very busy. She was also very naked and rocking wantonly on top of some unknown body thankfully blocked by the angle of Willow's view. Finally the sounds of pleasure and passion reached the witch's unprepared ears.
"Great Googily Moogily!" Willow whispered harshly. She forced her eyes away and noticed that the marchwarden stood beside her carefully not looking through the window. Her eyes widened even further. "You knew!"
Haldir nodded haltingly as he continued to study the wooden wall before him. "I did try to warn you."
"You should've just told me." Willow hissed. Wave upon wave of embarrassment poured through the redhead's body. This was SO not a scene she ever needed to see. This was even worse than Spike and Anya on the Nerdcam. Lifting her hands to her face, Willow groaned. "Oh goddess...I will never get this image out of my head. Does Middle Earth have shrinks?"
Haldir frowned. "What is a shrink?"
"Nevermind." She mumbled miserably. Then another realization hit her. Without thinking to stop herself, Willow opened her eyes at the scene again. Buffy and some unknown elf - Willow could tell it was an elf because they had that glowy thing going on. She could also see long blonde hair spread out across the bed. The redhead frowned. "But if Buffy's in there," she looked back to the stoic marchwarden, "and you're out here," her eyes narrowed and her hands curled into fists at her side. "Damn it!" She stomped away from the house and back toward the pathway leading down to the city.
The witch was so caught up in her own thoughts she almost ran right over her little sister and an embarrassed Aragorn as they came up the same path. Pulling herself to a stop, Willow looked them over. Dawn was breathing hard from running and the Ranger's face couldn't get more red. She rolled her eyes. Obviously someone had seen fit to drop them a clue. Willow was not in the mood for awkward conversations and explanations. She met Dawn's eyes bluntly. "We both lost." Pushing past, Willow continued back down the path. She needed to put as much distance between herself and that house as possible.
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End of Chapter
Well? FEEDBACK? Pretty Please? Should I keep this going?
Ring Red
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Willow paced anxiously back and forth across the pavilion. Her mind ran over a million horrific possibilities. What could have happened? Oh goddess, they couldn't lose her. They just couldn't. The door clicked open behind her. Willow spun around and looked desperately into Aragorn's eyes. "Well? Did they find her? Did you speak with Lady Galadriel?"
Aragorn kept his expression neutral. "I did not speak with the Lady personally, but she sent a message to me. Slayer is well. She is safe and will come to no harm. That is all she would impart at this time. Slayer's disappearance is of her own choosing and the Lady says it is not her place to reveal your sister's location or her motivations."
"THAT ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH!" Willow raged. "You don't know Buffy. She's been upset, very upset since we got here. Dawnie and I couldn't figure out why. We thought, we hoped, that her sparring with Haldir was helping but now she's just disappeared! Buffy disappearing is never a good thing. I have to find her." She stormed past the future king and out the door.
Reaching up to rub his eyes, Aragorn sighed. He'd gotten the impression that Galadriel was more amused than alarmed by Slayer's disappearance. He prayed that impression was correct.
The door opened again. This time Aara walked in followed by Boromir. Aragorn gave the man of Gondor a thoughtful glance. Something weighed on Boromir of late and Aragorn feared he knew what it was. At the moment the Steward's Heir watched Aara with a mix of sympathy and reluctant amusement. He felt Aragorn's eyes upon him and met the Ranger's stare. "What word from the Lady?"
Dawn's eyes snapped in Aragorn's direction. They were wide and hopeful. "Did she find Buffy?"
Aragorn bit back a sigh before he explained once again. "The Lady has located your sister, but will not reveal that location. She assures that no harm has come or will come to Slayer and that the disappearance is of her own choosing."
"WHAT?" Aara expression twisted in outrage. "Are you freakin' insane? Buffy would not just take off like this! She wouldn't leave me!" She looked down and Aragorn could no longer see her expression. When she spoke her voice was small and frail. "She wouldn't leave us." Then she balled her hands into fists and met his gaze again. Her eyes were wet with tears, but they glowed with determination. "She wouldn't leave us. I know Buffy's been down since we got here, but things were getting better! She was hitting it off with Haldir and enjoying the sparring!" Her eyes pleaded with him for reassurance. "She wouldn't leave us."
"Then perhaps she did not." Boromir spoke up calmly. Aara turned to face him and he smiled slightly. "Have you and your sister considered that Slayer may be otherwise occupied at the moment? That she may not have actually left or been taken? The Lady assures that Slayer is safe. She will not reveal your sister's location, but she does not say that Slayer has left Caras Galadhon. Perhaps Slayer is still safe within the city and will return to you in her own time."
Dawn frowned. "Why the hell would Buffy do that? That isn't like her. She was upset. She just stormed off yesterday from sparring and didn't come back! Why would she do that?"
"Well..." Boromir began and then trailed off awkwardly.
Aragorn's eyes narrowed as he looked at Boromir. Was the Steward's Heir actually nervous? An idea began to form in the Ranger's mind. He looked to the anxious figure of Aara and felt his cheeks heat. Eru, if it be true - how would they explain THAT to her?
"Perhaps she is upset no longer." Boromir told the beautiful young woman carefully. "She may be more - pleasantly occupied."
Aragorn mentally cursed as he felt his cheeks heat even further. He would rather take on a rogue pack of orcs than be part of this conversation.
Dawn frowned confused. "More pleasantly occupied? Pleasantly occupied doing what?" She looked at Boromir and his pained expression. She looked at Aragorn and his flushed cheeks. What could... "Oh!" She winced and felt her own cheeks heat. "Oh, THAT pleasantly occupied. She's..." The men looked horrified at how she might end that sentence. She couldn't really blame them. This conversation was SO not in the books and movies. Her faced burned and she reached up to cover it with her hands. "I'm going to kill her!"
Aragorn grew concerned. "Lady Aara, I know that your sister's behavior might be distressing to you, but it is perfectly natural. A warrior such as your sister sometimes needs to find comfort in the arms of another."
Boromir stared at Aragorn in shock. The future king winced. He couldn't believe he'd spoken thus to an innocent young lady either.
"Huh?" Dawn just stared at him. "I'm not distressed because Buffy's gettin' some." Both men paled. "It's been six long cranky years. God knows she NEEDS some. I'm distressed because the hag didn't tell Willow and I where she would be. We've been worried sick!" Then her eyes widened. "Oh holy freakin' crap! Willow! Willow's going to find Buffy and...oh holy freakin' crap!" She ran for the door. She had to find her sister.
Aragorn watched her departure before looking back to Boromir. "I suppose, as gentlemen, we should follow and assist the lady."
Boromir lifted a brow. "I'm a warrior, not a gentleman."
Rolling his eyes, Aragorn headed for the door.
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"Hmm..." Buffy purred and arched her neck as her lover lazily explored the sensitive skin with his lips and tongue. She ran her fingers through his gorgeous long hair and sighed. "You know...I used to be blonde."
Legolas pulled back resting his weight on his elbows and smirked as he met her gaze. "Is this a point for deep contemplation?"
Buffy mock glared. "I miss being blonde."
"Your hair was blonde when first we met." Legolas reminded her teasingly of their less-than-poetic beginning. "I prefer the brown."
Rolling her eyes, Buffy yanked his hair lightly. "That had nothing to do with hair color and everything to do with you being an annoying, arrogant..." she gasped as her Pest resumed his earlier path and nipped at a particularly delicious spot beneath her right ear, "pointy-eared," he sucked lightly on the spot and Buffy's voice turned dreamy, "...pest."
Moving up the Prince drew her earlobe between his lips and stroked it with his tongue. Another breathy sigh escaped the slayer and he smiled. "Am I still a pest?"
"Uh huh," Buffy answered with a slow nod, "unbearably irritating. Don't know how I stomach you." Legolas continued his attentions to Buffy's ear. He ran his tongue up the round arch. Shifting his weight to the side, he also slid one hand beneath the blankets that covered them. Buffy moaned as talented fingers found another wicked spot to tease. "That helps..." Legolas grinned again, but the expression melted into one of lust as Buffy dipped her hands beneath the blankets as well. Banter forgotten the Prince and Slayer reimmersed themselves in each other and fulfilling their long-fought desires.
Some time later, Buffy glowed with satisfaction as snuggled her head onto Legolas' shoulder. "So...that stuff about Elves and desire, is that true?"
Legolas was unsure whether to be insulted or not. Did she doubt his word? "I would not lie to you, Buffy."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "I know that. I'm just making conversation - or actually I'm aiming for a point."
"What point?"
"If Elves are all about the 'more-than-appearance' then why were you jealous of Haldir? I mean, if you didn't think he was all obsessed with my body, then what was the trauma?"
Smiling softly Legolas kissed the top of her head. "Elves desire as strongly as any race, Buffy. That those desires are not based mainly on physical beauty makes them no less potent."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "But I still don't get your problem with Haldir."
Frowning, Legolas tilted his Slayer's face up and met her eyes with his own. "If you believe that only your appearance can inspire desire and passion, Buffy - you are wrong. You have a fire within you, a fire of life, strength, and love. Your fire is far more intoxicating than any fair features could ever be." Buffy smiled slightly and blushed before breaking eye contact to look down. Legolas kissed her forehead. "I admit I reacted poorly, but Haldir is by no means immune to you, dagnir nîn, and I feared his ability to charm you."
"Hey," Buffy crawled over to straddle the Prince's chest. She leaned down and kissed him deeply. "Haldir's cool as a friend, but I only have one pointy-eared Pest." Legolas stared hungrily at her naked form above him. Buffy felt lust surge back to life under his gaze. She sighed. "God, we're like never leaving this talan again are we?" Legolas only smiled and rocked his hips.
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Willow frowned hard as she trailed after the glowing dot of light. It didn't make any sense, did it? Why was it going up the path into the city? Could Galadriel's brand of magic be making her spell go wonky? Still, she couldn't quit following it now. She had to find Buffy.
"Lady Tasere," Haldir followed after Willow reluctantly, "what is this magic?" The marchwarden had noticed the distressed witch searching for her sister earlier. He'd tried in vain to turn the woman from the search, but she would not be swayed. Haldir inwardly cringed at the thought of the scene Tasere was doomed to interrupt should she succeed.
"A locator spell." Willow told him curtly. She was just about tired of the marchwarden. Didn't he have woods to guard or something?
Haldir blanched. "And these spells are accurate?"
Willow nodded. "Normally. This one might be off though." She frowned as the little dot of light continued to float forward through the winding path up into the trees and the heart of the city. "Don't know why it's coming up here." She shrugged and walked on.
Fighting for patience, Haldir reached up and rubbed his hand over his eyes. "Perhaps Arato has come this way." He rather hoped not.
"That would be the point of the spell." Willow tried to sound perky and confident. She felt neither.
They reached the great talan, but still the dot floated past and onto a narrow walkway leading ever higher. Willow frowned. They were running out of city here.
The path ended at a large talan with a small house built off to the back. Haldir knew that the house was meant for visitors to the Golden Wood. In more joyful years, the house had been ever occupied by some party of guests or another, but dark times were upon them. The house was practically abandoned for visitors were rarely welcomed now in Lorien.
As they reached the edge of the talan, Haldir's sensitive Elven ears picked up unmistakable sounds in the air. He shot Tasere a panicked look and tried one last time to avert disaster. "Perhaps Arato does not wish to be found. Perhaps she wishes for solitude - time alone to think."
Willow shrugged unconcerned. She followed the dot with her eyes as it sped toward the house and through an open window. "She'll get over it."
Haldir felt anger boil within him. "You are the most stubborn female I have ever met!"
The witch simply shot him a perky smile. "Thank you." She jogged after the dot before he could stop her. She didn't know why, but she knew he wanted to stop her. Had she taken the time to rationally consider Haldir's reasoning she might have spared herself and the marchwarden a very awkward moment. Willow froze as the scene through the window slowly registered through her brain. There was Buffy. She was safe and sound...and very busy. She was also very naked and rocking wantonly on top of some unknown body thankfully blocked by the angle of Willow's view. Finally the sounds of pleasure and passion reached the witch's unprepared ears.
"Great Googily Moogily!" Willow whispered harshly. She forced her eyes away and noticed that the marchwarden stood beside her carefully not looking through the window. Her eyes widened even further. "You knew!"
Haldir nodded haltingly as he continued to study the wooden wall before him. "I did try to warn you."
"You should've just told me." Willow hissed. Wave upon wave of embarrassment poured through the redhead's body. This was SO not a scene she ever needed to see. This was even worse than Spike and Anya on the Nerdcam. Lifting her hands to her face, Willow groaned. "Oh goddess...I will never get this image out of my head. Does Middle Earth have shrinks?"
Haldir frowned. "What is a shrink?"
"Nevermind." She mumbled miserably. Then another realization hit her. Without thinking to stop herself, Willow opened her eyes at the scene again. Buffy and some unknown elf - Willow could tell it was an elf because they had that glowy thing going on. She could also see long blonde hair spread out across the bed. The redhead frowned. "But if Buffy's in there," she looked back to the stoic marchwarden, "and you're out here," her eyes narrowed and her hands curled into fists at her side. "Damn it!" She stomped away from the house and back toward the pathway leading down to the city.
The witch was so caught up in her own thoughts she almost ran right over her little sister and an embarrassed Aragorn as they came up the same path. Pulling herself to a stop, Willow looked them over. Dawn was breathing hard from running and the Ranger's face couldn't get more red. She rolled her eyes. Obviously someone had seen fit to drop them a clue. Willow was not in the mood for awkward conversations and explanations. She met Dawn's eyes bluntly. "We both lost." Pushing past, Willow continued back down the path. She needed to put as much distance between herself and that house as possible.
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End of Chapter
Well? FEEDBACK? Pretty Please? Should I keep this going?
Ring Red
