Quintessence
Explanations
By me
A/N: I must remind you guys that Buffy and Spike have no Idea about the ring. NO IDEA ABOUT IT!! And Elrond and Gandalf have totally forgotten about the prophecy… FORGOT IT! Just thought I should point that out so that I don't have any one yelling at me later about it….
News; okay guys, found out I need to get a job, which sucks. Whoever wants to get into the whole horse scene, don't go to a boarding barn, certain horse people screw you over big time. I feel bad about saying that I was going to write anymore if I didn't get x amount of reviews. I really do, and well before I really was discouraged. But after realizing what happened, I thought I should apologize. Things are just too stressful right now to feel bad so I decided to get this off my back and just update….
~*~Three days later~*~
Buffy eyes fluttered open at the sound of someone knocking gently on her door. She muttered a quiet 'too early' as she stood shakily on her feet. She opened the door to find an Elf, a beautiful elf at that. She had long flowing blonde locks, which wasn't a surprise to Buffy
"Uh hi?" Buffy said awkwardly.
"Good morning, I just brought you some clothes so you can start your day." The elf said
"Uh thank you." Buffy said, and the she-elf gracefully left
As Buffy got dressed, she couldn't help but think of her plans lined up for the day. Apparently, the Gandy guy still hadn't arrived yet, but then again she never really asked. She really hoped this guy would get here soon so they could get working on sending her home.
After she had dressed in her simple cream colored dress, she headed out the door. It was fairly early in the morning, and the sun was shining brightly. No one was around, that she knew.
Buffy couldn't help but feel immense loathing towards the she- elves that passed her by. There was something about tall, slender, and spectacularly beautiful women that made Buffy a tad bit insecure. A tad bit insecure was an understatement. Buffy was extremely insecure around these creatures. But she didn't mind the guy elf's. They were hot. This never bothered Buffy. It pleased her greatly. In fact, Buffy loved it. She could ogle at all the hot elf's she wanted. Buffy most especially liked to look at their tight little asses. It was quite entertaining through the long days. They would run past, all springy, and Buffy would gaze at their backside for a while. It very much entertained Buffy.
She couldn't help but notice a certain brown haired little person coming her way. Frodo look a lot better since Buffy last saw him. But the look on his face was grave.
": Hey Frodo. How's it going?"
He looked at her strangely "What?"
Buffy sighed in annoyance at the Hobbits ignorance to her lingo. "How are you doing?"
"Oh uh, good. I just decided to take a walk before the council gathering."
"A gathering of what? Oh does this particular gathering contain some hot guys and some alcoholic goodness? "Buffy joked, trying to lighten the mood.
Frodo, once again, looked at the blonde woman strangely. "Sometimes, I have no idea to what you speak of."
"Yea, a lot of people have that problem, so don't feel singled out. I'll teach you Buffy-lingo one day." Buffy laughed merrily." So what about this gathering you were speaking about not too long ago?"
"It's a gathering trying to decide who—" Frodo paused, trying to decide if he should tell Buffy. As much as he likes Buffy, he didn't necessarily trust her with this sort of information. Also Frodo felt that the more people knew about the ring, the more danger they would be in. "Trying to decide something that I don't know about yet, but I should soon find out." Frodo lied.
"Oh, okay." Buffy didn't believe the little Hobbit one bit.
They walked in silence for a while. Frodo had many questions he had been meaning to ask Buffy and her friend arrived so suspiciously not too long ago. But he felt strange just coming out and asking her because he thought she might get insulted or laugh. But at that moment his curiosity got the best of him and he opened his mouth.
"Where did you come from?" Frodo asked suddenly.
Buffy was startled by the question" Oh, I came from a place called sunnydale. Or sunnyhell as spike would lovingly put it."
"Why would he call it that? Isn't it his home also?"
"Well yea, but the name fits, you could say. The name of the town is very deceitful."
"In what way?" Frodo asked
"It may seem like a happy-sunny town during the day, but once the darkness falls, then it's a whole different ball game." Buffy received yet another confused look from Frodo. She knew she had to reiterate what she had just said. "It's totally different."
"Is it a dangerous place?"
"Yes, it's probably one of the most dangerous places."
"I wouldn't like to live in a place like that. Why don't you just move away?"
"Because I have responsibilities. " Buffy said distractedly. "Hey, um have you seen that Gandalf guy?"
"Yes, very much. You need to see him?"
"Yea, Spike and I need to get home." Buffy said
'Well he should be at the council later. Maybe you could meet him afterward?"
"Why can't I just meet him now?" Buffy asked
'He doesn't like being disturbed during his naps" Frodo said with a slight smile on his face.
"Oh I totally understand."
~*~ Council of Elrond~*~
Elrond surveyed the group around him. They were all gathered to discuss something that was of great importance. It was something with such great importance that it would determine the fate of Middle Earth. Everyone seemed anxious. The dwarves, the elves, and the men all seemed restless. But none seemed more nervous as Mr. Frodo. Elrond could feel his already heavy heart, and he thought the sooner that he got the ring away from Frodo, the better.
"I assume everyone here knows what this meeting is being addressed about." Everyone was quiet. "Frodo, bring forth the ring."
Frodo, very slowly got up from his seat. His footsteps seemed to have lead in them. They sounded heavy and sluggish. He stopped at the pedestal in the middle and extended his right hand. Very quietly and slowly he settled the ring down.
Everyone one at once started to whisper in excited tones. Frodo immediately felt his heart lighten at the absence of the ring. But somehow, he knew this feeling was going to be fleeting.
~*~meanwhile, behind the bushes~*~
"Pippin, you're stepping on my feet!" Merry whispered in a angry tone.
"Sorry, it's just so hard to see."
"Will you two shut up? Buffy and I can't hear what they are going on about." Spike whispered.
The four watched as Frodo walked to the pedestal in the middle of the area. He slowly placed a golden ring on it.. At the moment that Frodo placed the ring on the pedestal, Buffy felt her heart quicken. Something about this thing made her uneasy. But there was something else that was all too familiar.
The four watched as a scruffy man with light hair stood up" It is a gift, why must we hide it, when we can use it against our enemies." He exclaimed.
"The ring has a will of its own. It's pointless in trying to wield its power because it only answers to one." Strider said gravely.
"And what would a ranger know about matters such as these?" The scruffy man said angrily.
"This is no mere ranger; this is Aragorn, son of lord Arathorn Heir of Isiuldur(sp?) And Rohans rightful king." A elf said indignantly. Buffy recognized this elf right away. He was the smoldering hot one that she locked eyes with just days before.
" Rohan has no king." The scruffy one said acidly.
"Aragorn is right, Boromir. This ring is too powerful for anyone to wield. Its rightful owner is Sauron, whose strength is growing each passing moment. The ring calls to him." Elrond said gravely." The real question is who is to be the one who will cast it into the fires of mount doom?"
Suddenly, a dwarf stood up and lifted his axe and said "Why wait to destroy it in the mountain." Suddenly he swung his axe down to the ring. Buffy and Spike expected the ring to break, but were surprised to find that it was still intact after the strong blow.
"A pointless task it is to destroy this ring, without the aid of the fires that made it." Elrond said "That is why we need someone to carry and cast it into the fires from whence it came."
And before Buffy or Spike knew it, everyone got into a heated argument. It happened too quickly for them to understand, but from the fragments of sentences that they caught along the way, they figured it was on who was going to go on the journey.
"I would rather die than see an ELF do it." One dwarf said angrily.
The elves stood up, towering over the stocky dwarves. The two groups were shouting at one another. It went unnoticed by everyone, save Gandalf and Buffy that Frodo stood up quietly and said in a meek tone 'I'll take the ring"
No one heard him, and Gandalf closed his eyes in silent anguish at the outcome. He never wanted Frodo to be the one to carry this burden. But it seemed that It was his fate.
After the group silenced, Frodo said again "I will take the ring; though I do not know the way."
"Then I will help you carry this burden" Gandalf said.
"And you have my sword." Strider said bowing.
"And my bow." Buffy's hot elf strode forward.
"And my axe." The dwarf said proudly.
The scruffy man from before walked toward Frodo hesitantly "And also my sword."
Suddenly, when all was processed, a loud yell was heard from the far side of the area. Sam jumped out of the Bushes, yelling " And I'm coming too.'
" No it seems rather impossible to separate you. Even when Mr. Frodo is invited to a private meeting and you are not" Elrond said with a smile on his face.
Buffy and Spike were startled to find Merry and Pippin clamoring to get out of the bushes. " We're coming too." Merry said loudly, joining the group.
"Because you need people of intelligence on this journey- quest- thing" Pippin said.
'Guess that leaves you out Pip. ' Merry whispered.
'So this is it, a group of nine. The Fellowship of the Ring" Elrond said as he surveyed the group with a proud expression on his face. "It seems we have another issue to discuss Gandalf, and I think now would be a good time."
"And what would that be? "
'Well I think it can wait until everyone leaves." Elrond said. Soon, everyone left the area, save only the Hobbits, who stayed behind.
"Now, Master Perigrin informed me that two strangers came about them in a very queer way along their journey. Master Perigrin, do explain." Elrond said, motioning fro Pippin to speak.
"They fell from the sky." Pippin said nervously.
"Would you kindly go into more detail?" Gandalf urged.
"Well, it was right after our first encounter with one of the black riders. We were running, when all of a sudden it went completely dark and noises were heard. And just as quickly as it was there, it was gone, and there were Buffy and Spike lying on the ground unconscious."
'Hmmm, are these strangers here now?" Gandalf asked thoughtfully
"Yes in fact, Gandalf, they are right behind those bushes
there." Elrond said with a slight smile on his face. "Come on out Buffy,
Spike."
Buffy and Spike rose from the bushes guiltily. Buffy walked with her head held low, dragging her feet on the pavement, her entire face expression was showing guilt. Spike on the other hand, always the badass, walked with a little bounce in his step, with a confident look on his face.
"Hi." Buffy said nervously.
"What's going on?' Spike asked with a cheeky smile on his face.
"Are you the two who supposedly fell from the sky?" Gandalf asked.
"Hit the nail on the head. Are you the one who can send us home?" Spike asked
"Please, one question at a time Master Spike." Gandalf said. He then turned to Frodo." How is it that you two think you came here?"
"Well, we think it was portal. But it could be a number of things. Anything really." Buffy said anxiously, hoping this man had an idea in how to send her and Spike home.
'Yes indeed Ms. Buffy. Many things could have sent you here, but your first guess is probably the most accurate." Gandalf said with a warm smile on his face that reminded her of Giles. "Though I don't understand why you have been sent here. Portals, or Vortex's if you will, do not pop up spontaneously. Do you have any idea in what might've brought this on?"
"Nah mate, have no idea." Spike said.
"Well do you two delve in magic at all?" Gandalf asked. Gandalf sensed an immense amount of magical energy coming off the two.
"Well our friend is a very powerful Wicca." Buffy said hopefully. Then she saw Gandalf's confused face and then she remembered herself that people had no idea what she usually spoke about in Sunnydale, why would these people understand her even better? She decided she had to reiterate again "Our friend is a very powerful witch."
"Well I doubt she is much of a friend if she sent you through an inter- dimensional vortex."
"Oh no she is. She really is a good friend."
"Vortex's aren't usually brought upon good friends Buffy. You're enemies are more likely to use them." Gandalf said "Can you think of anyone with this amount of power who would want to send you into a different world? "
Buffy racked the very long list of people/demons who could do this to her and Spike. The list was virtually endless. Any demon who wanted to cause a raucous in the slayers town had to be pretty powerful to do this. Most demons she met, never really had much of a brain. Vampire's maybe. But one potential rang in her mind like gong. The first had to be behind this. Get rid of two of the strongest players in this so called war and the first was set. Buffy only hoped that nothing had happened to Willow, because only God knew that she was by far the strongest in the group.
" Ummm" Buffy was still racking her brain.
"We think it might be her kid sister." Spike says nonchalantly. Gandalf and the others raise their eyebrows in curiosity and confusion.
"Well she was a key. She could open the walls of hell at one point. She not evil, just seventeen, which is probably the evilest thing in the world, but really shes not. It's a long story." Buffy babbled. She shot a look at contempt at the Vampire.
"Your sister was a Key?" Gandalf asked in interest.
"Yea." Buffy looked at him, feeling his eyes digging into her soul.
"Hey, can we get going with this because I'm ready to get going on home." Spike said suddenly breaking the odd connection between Buffy and Gandalf.
"Well Master Spike, I'm sorry to tell you this but I do not have the means of performing such an act. I need supplies that I normally do not carry. The only place to which I can get it is at my elder, Sarumans, residence. To which I know I'm not welcome at anymore. Saruman has turned Isengard towards the eye of the enemy." Gandalf said sadly.
"B- But how are we going to get home? We desperately need to get home!" Buffy exclaimed; her heart sinking to the bottom of her stomach. Tears were burning her eyes when she felt a gentle, comforting hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Spike smiling sadly at her.
"Is there anyway you can get to this place? We are in need to get home mate." Spike said trying to keep his voice calm for Buffy.
"Yes there is. But It is only by you two coming with us on our journey." Gandalf said " I do plan on giving Saruman a visit along the way." Gandalf said eerily.
"Gandalf, What are you talking about? She is a woman, and he is a man to whom we have no idea if he has had any training. This is a long a perilous journey. And you want to bring a WOMAN along to be killed??" Elrond sounded loudly.
"There is no other way my lord." Gandalf said quietly. "I'm sure we can teach them the basics. They will only have to fight when necessary." At this Buffy rolled her eyes and Spike snorted. Really at this moment, Buffy did not care if they thought her as a weak helpless girl. Proving these men wrong were not her main objective, getting home was.
"Do you have any training with a sword master Spike?" Gandalf addressed the Vampire softly.
"Yea, somewhat." Spike said throwing a smirk in Buffy's direction.
"Well maybe, while we are here in Rivendell, you and Lady Buffy can learn the basics from some of our finest fighters" Elrond said "I will schedule your first lesson for tomorrow morning."
"That sounds great." Buffy said smiling.
"Well I suggest you two get ready for dinner, which is in about an hour. We are having a feast in the hall." Elrond said addressing them all to leave. Gandalf stayed behind with a strange look on his face.
"Gandalf, what is troubling you?' Elrond asked.
"I don't know my lord. But those two, the magic that floats around them is immense and thick. It's intoxicating really." Gandalf said
"And if I remember correctly, the girl said that her sister was a –"
"A key, yes she did say that."
"Please forgive me Gandalf, I may have been alive for thousands of years, but my memory isn't as good as it use to be. If I remember correctly, a key is a devise used to open the walls of dimensions. If that were true, if her 'sister' did activate the portal, then wouldn't it still be open?" Elrond asked.
"Yes, but yet I don't, or you don't for that matter, sense anything off in this world "
'True, so it wasn't the Key was it? "Asked Elrond.
"No my lord. I'm afraid that whatever magic opened the vortex was much nearer than we could have ever thought. I felt it, coming off the man."
"So you think it was he who opened the vortex?" Elrond asked
"Not intentionally. But something inside him opened that vortex." Gandalf rose from his chair and strode purposefully away from Elrond "Now if you'll excuse me, but its time for my afternoon nap."
~*~*~
Buffy looked down at the dresses lying on her bed. She couldn't help but feel giddy inside. The Californian girl inside her was screaming. She got new clothes. She surveyed each of the dresses. Each was pretty, in its own way. But most of them weren't her taste. Buffy never really was a dress kind of person. Sure she wore them out, but never out to slay. They just got in the way. But something inside Buffy told her that she wouldn't have to worry about slaying for tonight.
Buffy looked at the pretty blue dress she was holding. It had beautiful fabric, and its design was beautiful. But blue never really was her color. Neither was the green or the red or the lilac. Instead, Buffy found a beautiful light grey dress underneath the others. The fabric was soft as wispy and the embroidery at the bust was simply magnificent.
Buffy was pleased to see that it fit her perfectly. The Californian valley girl inside her was nodding in approval. Now she needed something to do with her hair. Buffy also felt insecure about her hair here in Elf-vill. Most of the men had better conditioners than her.
Suddenly there was a knock at the door.
Buffy opened it to find Spike with a pissed off look on his face.
"I'm not wearing this!" Spike said.
"Wear what?" Buffy asked confused.
"This!" Spike shoved a bundle of fabric at her chest. "I can't wear that. I'm not some bloody queen prancing about. I have my bloody dignity I'm not wearing those bloody leggings."
" You say ' Bloody' a lot." Buffy said receiving a death glare from Spike " Oh come on Spike, just wear them. You know you can still look masculine in tight pants or shorts. Why just look at Richard Simmons, he's real manly, and he dances around in those hot pants. That just screams 'Look at me, I'm a big manly man'." Buffy started laughing hysterically. Spike, on the other hand, did not.
"No that just screams 'Angel'." That shut Buffy up. "I'm serious Buffy, I can't wear that. It truly is embarrassing."
'Come on, just wear it. They've been so kind to us. We have too. Just wear it." Buffy pleaded.
"Can I wear my duster?" Spike asked.
"Of course; you'll look ridiculous, but whatever you little un-beating heart desires."
" Thanks luv." Spike said. Buffy was looking beautiful right then, in her grey dress. It took all of the control in him not to grab her and kiss her. "Well I better go change. Meet you in five." At this he was out the door.
Buffy replayed the recent events in her head. Buffy recalled the desire in Spikes eyes just then. Buffy had seen that same desire in his eyes last year, during their torrid affair. Then, she thought nothing more of if other than that it made her feel alive. Now, she didn't know what to make of that look. Spike was a different person now, and her feelings had changed. She changed, the situation was different. Frankly the whole thing gave her a headache.
~*~*~
To those who reviewed my story. Thank you. Your lovely thoughts on my story give me drive to write.
So what did you think? I thought this is my best chapter to date, but that's just me, and I've been proven wrong many times before.
So what did Gandalf mean when he said that he felt the magic that was used to open the portal coming off of Spike? Wow that one is obvious. But I aint tellin'!!
What's up with Buffy? Why isn't she just admitting to herself that she loves Spike?
What are the pairings? Frankly I don't know, well I do, but I don't want to tell you all because its what drives this story…
In the next chapter, Buffy meets Legolas formally. So does Spike. And Buffy and Spikes first sword training. Hmmm this should be interesting….
Review !!!!!!!!
Later love dolls
