Title: Miles to Go
By: Ring Red
Disclaimer: I own NOTHING! (pout)
Rating: R
Note: Okay, we had a little bit of a wait again, but I'm finally back and I hope you're still interested in the story. I am extremely grateful for all my reviews. You guys definitely keep me going. You also give me things to think about. I've been going back and forth with a few ideas for the story for the last few months and I think I've finally figured out where I want to go with it…or where it wants to lead me anyway.
I know that some of you think, not without reason, that I've strayed from the plot of the journey and I'm trying to work on that. I do want to cover the journey and do it justice. But my muse also demands that I add scenes that deal with the sisters (especially Buffy to this point) and what's going on with them or how the journey is affecting them. I know that I got a little caught up in the Buffy/Legolas relationship in Lorien, but that should be calming down now that the journey is back on. Buffy is shaping up to be my main character for this fic, so you'll always see a lot of her, but most of that will be her take on what is happening with the fellowship. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I am aware I might have a little Buffy/Legolas addiction and I'm working on it…lol
There are also some scenes that deal with Dawn and Willow and their roles in the fellowship coming up in the next few chapters so don't think that I've forgotten them.
As for the dream scene: As far as I can tell some of you liked it and some of you didn't. There actually was a purpose for the dream. It was foreshadowing of stuff to come and it will not be last dream scene. I hope I don't lose any readers over them, but I'm building up to something.
Well, now that I've made my author notes WAY too long…let's get to the chapter. I hope you enjoy it! Feedback is more than welcome!
Chapter Twenty-One
Aragorn decided they should travel by night once again. The companions were apprehensive but placed their trust in the future king's judgment and carried on. They slept only a few hours in the boats on the edge of the shore and reluctantly abandoned the nightly story sessions. Danger drew near and it didn't take spidey-senses to feel it.
"And once again we're vampires." Dawn muttered under her breath.
Willow patted her little sister's shoulder sympathetically. "Hang in there, Dawnie. We'll make it."
Buffy ignored her sisters and scanned her eyes over the surrounding darkness. She rowed and kept pace with the other boats, but her mind drifted to her growing concerns. Every night this week she'd dreamt of the Bronze. It was wonderful to be back there and to see everyone as they had been, but why was she dreaming it? Why now? They were her first good dreams of Sunnydale for years. Buffy was the slayer and she knew it couldn't be coincidence. Her dreams were never really coincidence. So what did they mean?
"What do you think Buffy?"
The slayer jerked at her younger sister's voice. "What?"
Dawn rolled her eyes. "I asked what you thought of the Merry and Pippin thing. Are we supposed to let them get captured?"
"We have to." Buffy told her. "That's a necessary evil, Dawn." She looked back and caught the mutinous expressions on both her sisters' faces. Buffy narrowed her eyes. "I mean it. You both have to promise to stay out of that one. I don't want them hurt any more than you do, but they have to meet Treebeard and the Ents. We'll never stop Saruman if they don't."
Willow and Dawn reluctantly nodded their agreement and Buffy turned her attention back to rowing.
"Hoy there, Aragorn!" Boromir's panicked voice caught everyone's attention. "This is madness! We cannot dare the Rapids by night!"
The sisters shared a glance. Uh oh. They all three started to paddle as hard as they could backward. The fellowship had finally reached the Rapids of Sarn Gebir. Aragorn ordered the others to retreat as well. The passengers of the boats all began to fight against the current to retrace their path and reach the bank of the river. They hadn't made much progress when the twang of bowstrings filled the air. Arrows rained down upon them from the eastern shore. Black shapes could be seen running to and fro in the darkness.
"Yrch!" Legolas called out.
"Orcs!" Gimli echoed him.
Willow snorted as she drove her paddle through the water. "No kidding. What clued them in?"
Buffy smirked as she paddled even harder, but with less strain to her person. "What did you expect, Wills? Aragorn's the brains of this outfit. Legolas is the eye candy and Gimli's the comic relief. Don't challenge their intellect. You'll just make their heads hurt."
A grin curved Dawn's lips as familiar adrenaline flooded her veins at the danger that surrounded them. Just like old times. "Well at least we know they can count from Helms Deep. That puts them one up on several of the slayers."
"Dawnie!" Willow tried to sound outraged, but ended up snorting with laughter.
"We can hear ye, lassies!" Gimli growled.
Buffy shot him an evil grin. "That's the point, Gim."
Dawn smirked at the furious dwarf and blew him a kiss. Then she reached down and pulled her crossbow out of her bag. She took aim at the orcs on the bank and started picking off targets.
They ducked arrows and fought the river and finally reached the western shore. Hidden by some bushes they stopped to catch their breath. Legolas laid down his paddle. He pulled out his bow and climbed from the boat to stand a few paces up the bank. He looked out into the darkness. Buffy moved forward to join him. He briefly met her eyes.
"Get ready." Buffy told him calmly. She pulled her scythe from its sheath. For a moment he looked curious; then he nodded and turned his focus back to their surroundings.
A wave of cold dread fell over the fellowship. Buffy fought the dark power and held her ground. Then - it - appeared out of the darkness to the south. It was a great black winged creature and it was coming right for them.
"Elbereth Gilthoniel!" Legolas sighed.
Buffy laid her hand firmly on his arm and pushed as much strength as she could through the soul bond. "Take it down."
Nodding, Legolas fitted an arrow and took aim. The great bow of Lorien sang and the dark creature swerved and let out a harsh cry as it fell from the sky down into the shadows of the eastern shore. Angry wailing voices sounded in the distance and then fell eerily silent.
Legolas' eyes slid back to Buffy. She smiled at him and patted him on the back before turning to rejoin her sisters and the other companions. Willow and Dawn watched her intently. Buffy frowned and shrugged. "What?" They didn't answer.
The Argonath.
Willow looked up at the huge kings of stone. They were beautiful - worn with age and no longer perfect, but beautiful all the same. They were history.
"I wonder what they think of us?" Dawn mused. "Think they approve of the fellowship? They definitely have that intimidation thing kickin'."
Buffy snorted. "Probably wondering what the hell they've got three women with them for."
The companions navigated the river carefully. They passed into the chasm between the great kings. The waters were rough and their surroundings fierce, but soon a light appeared ahead and they passed through to the lake beyond. Relief settled upon them. The company rested and drifted for a while on the current through the middle of the lake. They pulled out some food and ate. Then Aragorn hastened them to pick up their paddles again. As night fell the travelers finally reached the foot of Amon Hen. They pulled the boats ashore and set up camp. Apprehension gripped the sisters. They were running out of time.
Buffy sighed and took in her surroundings. Here she went again. She leaned against the balcony and looked down on the dance floor. The Scoobies and several of the slayers were thrashing around to the music. Buffy rolled her eyes. These dreams were nice and all, but she just wasn't buying it. She was the Slayer. There had to be a point hidden around here somewhere. Now if she could just find it...
"Hey B. Long time, no see."
That was different. Buffy turned to meet Faith's eyes. The dark-haired slayer leaned against the balcony beside her. Faith was dressed in her usual unique style, but she looked older, more mature than Buffy had ever imagined her capable of being. Buffy had seen the other slayer in every dream so far. Faith had never looked like this. Buffy's eyes widened. "Slayer Dream."
Faith nodded. "That's my guess." A sad smile curved her lips as she looked Buffy over. "Haven't dreamed about you for a while now." The smile turned to a smirk. "And you never dressed like that."
Buffy looked down. She was wearing her Lorien cloak, tunic, and trousers. She reached back and pulled her long brown braided ponytail over her shoulder. That was different, too. In the other dreams she always appeared in her old clothes with her blonde hair. Buffy shrugged. "Fashion isn't quite a priority where I'm hanging these days."
Faith winced and looked down. "Yeah - how's that working out for you?" She looked back up and her eyes were oddly hopeful. "Are you happy?"
Was she? Buffy frowned as she thought about it. She pretty much was. She wasn't ecstatic and they had a hell of a war in front of them, but... "Yeah, I guess I am." A smile curved her lips.
"Good." Faith sighed in relief, but then pulled her cocky attitude back into place. "So what are we doing back here? Not that I'm complainin'. The Bronze was the only part of Sunnydale I was sad to see go."
Buffy snorted. "Ain't that the truth." Then she grew serious. "I don't know why we're here. I thought you might."
The dark slayer shook her head and looked down over the railing. "Nope. Figured you'd have some cryptic message for me. Helpful hints from the Ghost of Slayer Past, right?"
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Sorry Faith, but I'm Buffy not Yoda." Then she remembered a strange supernatural episode from years ago. She sent her sister slayer an evil grin. "Unless..."
Faith's eyes were serious. "Yeah?"
Nodding Buffy leaned forward. She pulled on her most solemn expression. "Beware the Cheese Guy."
Faith snorted and rolled her eyes. "Nice try, B. You told me about that."
Buffy pouted. "Damn it. We tell our stories too much. Nothing's sacred anymore."
The dark slayer lifted a brow. "You were hoping I'd flee in terror from the dairy aisle from now on?"
"I'd pay untold amounts of money for the video."
Both the slayers laughed and the tension faded from the air around them. They fell into a comfortable silence. Come to think of it, it was the first time Buffy could remember just feeling comfortable standing beside Faith. It was like the competition and the angst weren't there anymore. There was an understanding now - a shared bond...
Speaking of bonds - Buffy frowned and searched the crowd below again. Where was her Pest? He was always in her dreams now.
"So why are we here then?"
The dark slayer's words snapped Buffy from her search. She shrugged. "Haven't a clue. I've been dreaming of the Bronze all week. Figured the Valar were going to warn me about something." She paused thoughtfully. "I'm not so sure anymore."
Faith's eyebrows shot up. "Not a Slayer Dream?"
Buffy shook her head. "I'm thinking not."
"What then?"
"Maybe...uh..." The light-haired slayer's words trailed off and she looked away.
A warm hand landed on Buffy's shoulder. She looked back to Faith surprised. The dark slayer smiled. "Maybe what?"
Faith had changed. Buffy could see it. With Buffy gone, Faith had all the responsibility now. She was the leader. She finally understood that being THE Slayer wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Sure, there were slayers running all over the place now, but they still looked to their General for orders and guidance - and hope. Faith lived in Buffy's old shoes now. Buffy almost felt sorry for her.
"B?"
Buffy sighed. "Maybe this is a gift." Faith looked confused with reason. Buffy felt her face heat. "The Valar have this thing about giving me gifts. I'm like their favorite new grandkid or something." She shrugged. "Tomorrow's a really big day for our new world. Our quest is fixing to bust wide open. Things are getting majorly complicated and we're all uber-stressed about it. Maybe they brought us together here so I'd have someone to talk to." Buffy looked away. "Not that Will and Dawn aren't great, but..."
"But they don't understand the Slayer." Faith finished.
Buffy nodded.
Faith gave a snort and turned back to lean against the railing. "So now I'm your shrink?"
Buffy leaned forward beside her and laughed. "And if that isn't irony..."
A familiar wicked grin curved Faith's lips, but when she turned her head to look back at Buffy her eyes held a wealth of understanding. "So, B, what you wanna talk about?"
For a moment Buffy paused. Then she took a deep breath. Why the hell not? She smiled. "Well, there's this guy in our group named Boromir..."
End of Chapter
Well? What did you think? FEEDBACK? Pretty please?
I hope to hear from some of you soon!
Ring Red
