Merry Christmas to all! Also Happy Hanukah and whatever else I missed. An extra long chapter for your late present for whatever holiday you celebrate. The next chapter will be up on January 12. I wish I could write faster, but it's really hard to try and integrate three very different worlds. And I'm going to provide very important info in all of my author notes so please read them before reading each chapter. I hate having to repeat myself.

First, I will try and make the LOTR stuff as clear as I can for those who haven't read or seen the movies. And if you are still confused please don't hesitate to email me at melindoranightsilver@hotmail.com

For those who are familiar with LOTR I'm sure you will recognize where I've picked up the thread, for everyone else we're roughly three-quarters through Fellowship of the Ring.

LOTR notes:

{conversation} indicates they are speaking in elvish

for pronunciation: Celeborn is pronounced Keleborn, Caras Galadhon is Caras Galathon, Galadhrim is Galathrim

places: Lothlórien is the forest, Caras Galadhon is the elven city

Galadhrim are the elves of Caras Galadhon

Last Chapter:

the songs were: Dawn sang Fumbling Towards Ecstasy by Sarah McLaughlin, Draco sang Nothing Else Matters by Metallica, and Ginny sang Wild Angels by Martina McBride. Everyone was curious so I thought I'd let you know.

Review Responses:

fairysk8r, PeAnUtBuTTeR aNd JeLLy, Kyra2, dancetdplc, thank you guys so much for your reviews! They really mean a lot.

Pandoras Box1, you can thank my sister for the idea about Draco and the duster. Can't really remember why we were talking about it, but she mentioned it and it just seemed right. (Of course, we believe everyone needs a duster. We're trying to get the entire theatre department to get one, don't ask, we're a crazy group of people) Personally I'm an Aragorn fan. I like my men scruffy. I'm really looking forward to Viggo's new movie Hidalgo, he plays a cowboy. *sigh*

John, Hermione20, I hope I make everything clear, just email me if I don't.

Draco-FutureBF, thank you so much for my award, I shall treasure it always. I'm glad you're enjoying it so far.

All of my reviewers just kick ass! You guys are the best!

Chapter Four

Lothlórien

Anya arrived in Sunnydale a week after Ginny had left. She was fairly glowing and no one wanted to comment on it. They couldn't figure out what she saw in the surly potions master. Of course, they had never really understood Xander and Cordelia's relationship either.

Everyone quickly gathered their things and stood out in Buffy's backyard. The entire scooby gang was a bundle of energetic nerves. Other than Anya, none of them had gone to another dimension.

Dawn held on to Draco and Buffy's hands as she began building her will. While holding on to a solid connection with the two of them, she dove into the green light of the key. She pictured the clearing that she had been in when she last talked to Galadriel. She intoned, "I mahtari, I istar, ar I fólë nar minë. Assa imbë ambari. Pantar!"

A portal, just big enough for someone to walk through, shimmered in front of them. As they looked through it they could see a beautiful forest.

"That's our stop," Dawn said.

One by one they stepped through, Dawn being the last one. Once on the other side, she said, "Pahtar!" The sharp edges of the portal wavered, and then it winked out entirely.

{Who are you? What are you doing here?}

They all turned to the direction of the harsh voice. It was then that they realized that twenty blond people, all who were pointing bows at them, surrounded them. They were all beautiful and had pointy ears. Their captures were dressed similarly in greens and browns that blended seamlessly with their surroundings.

"Who are they?" Xander asked in a stage whisper.

"They're elves, now shut up," Dawn said out of the corner of her mouth and then spoke clearly to the elf. {I'm Amaurëa. We're here to see Galadriel.}

The elf who had spoken looked at her in faint surprise. {Are you truly the one transformed from the dimensional key?} A rustle could be heard as the elves talked quietly amongst themselves.

{You've heard of me?}

{I met you once as a child shortly before your transformation.}

Dawn's eyes lit up. {Really? Do you think you could tell me what you remember?}
{I'm afraid it is not much, but I will. I am Haldir, March Warden of Lothlórien. I shall take you and your companions to see Galadriel. Please follow me.}

"Let's go guys," Dawn said to the rest of the group.

Haldir stopped and turned to regard them. {Do your companions not speak Sindarin?}

{They can understand it at least. But some of their pronunciation is horrible.}

{Hey, I resent that!} Draco protested.

"I don't know, I thought it was pretty accurate," Willow said out of the side of her mouth to Tara who giggled softly.

"That is good," Haldir said in accented English. "Many here do not speak the Common Tongue."
"Common Tongue?" Xander asked.

The blond elf looked at him strangely. "The language we are currently speaking."

"Oh, you mean English. That's cool."

"I do not see how being cold has any bearing on which language we use."

"It's just an expression we use to say that we understand or we think something was good or even if we like something," Dawn explained.

"Ah, I see," he said in a tone that clearly said he didn't. "Shall we?"

"Sure."

As they walked Haldir noticed Buffy eyeing his bow. "Do you shoot, my lady?"

"Huh?" Buffy asked, startled slightly.

"Do you shoot a bow?"

"Nope. Always wanted to try though," she said thoughtfully.

"Then, perhaps, I shall give you lessons."

"Shouldn't take too long," Spike said. "What will we do for the rest of the two weeks we're here?"

"Why is that?"

"Buffy here is the slayer."

"The slayer of what?" Haldir asked, truly curious.

"Vampires, demons, general all-around bad guys. She can use every weapon nearly perfectly the first time she picks it up."

"That is truly remarkable. I would like to see that one day."

"Not a problem," Buffy said absently as she was taking in her surroundings.

In fact, they were all pretty caught up in looking around. They had just entered the elven city and they couldn't help but gape at the beauty around them. Stairs wound around impossibly huge trees and above their heads were delicate buildings built into the branches. They seemed to grow naturally from the trees instead of looking man-made, or rather elf-made.

As Dawn looked about, she had an odd sense of familiarity and coming home. The trees called to something in her blood as they welcomed her back. While Sunnydale was her home and she loved it in a strange way, it was soothing to know that this was where she had come from.

They walked up a seemingly endless amount of stairs before reaching an elegant platform. Haldir told them to wait there for Galadriel and then he left. But not before promising to see them again soon.

"Good thing none of us are afraid of heights," Xander said nervously as he peered over the edge of the platform to the forest floor far below.

"If you're scared, whelp, get away from the edge," Spike said with a roll of his eyes.

Xander didn't get a chance to retort because and approaching white light distracted him.

"Oh goddess," Willow breathed as they all turned to look.

When their eyes adjusted they were able to make out two blond elves. One was a man dressed in pale blue robes and the other was a woman in a heavily beaded white gown. Her eyes were piercing as she looked at their visitors.

"Mae govannen, Galadriel," Dawn said brightly.

"Mae govannen, Amaurëa," the woman said warmly. {It has been too long since you have graced our woods. I am glad to see you again.}

Dawn couldn't restrain herself any longer and hugged the elf tightly. {It's so good to see you for real.}

Galadriel returned the hug. {I see you learned to let them support you.}

The brunette gave her a look that clearly said, duh.

She smiled at Dawn with a twinkle in her eye and turned to regard her friends. She approached Draco first and looked deeply into his eyes. He swallowed nervously until she smiled approvingly at him. {Indeed, your heart is as deep and loving as hers. Never doubt that she loves you as deeply as you do her.}

Then she turned her penetrating gaze to Buffy, who held it unwaveringly. {Ah, the warrior who gives her strength to others. Strength that is not only physical, but also emotional. The ties between the two of you are so great, that none can break them.

{And you were a surprise.} Galadriel said, as she looked at Spike. {Always has it been two who helped wield the power of the key, a wizard and a warrior. Never had we imagined that our warrior would have bound herself to another as she has with you. Love as committed and deep as yours is hard to find. I hope you cherish it.}

Spike smirked and said, "You had better believe we do."

"Forgive me, I forgot to ask if you spoke our language or not."
"I taught them," Dawn piped up. "Some of them speak it very well, but they all can manage if they have to."

"That is good. Now, who are the rest of your friends, Amaurëa?"

Dawn did a quick round of introductions and Galadriel greeted each one of them warmly.

"This is my husband, Celeborn," Galadriel said, referring to the other elf who had arrived with her.

He nodded his head in way of greeting. "It is a pleasure to meet you." While Galadriel had seemed warm and friendly, he was stiffer and more formal as if he was trying to figure out what they were doing there.

His wife gave him a knowing look and turned to Dawn and her friends. "You must forgive him. He's a little unhappy about being torn away from his books."

Giles looked up in interest. "Books? What sort of books?"

Celeborn raised an elegant eyebrow. "Books of knowledge, the history of Middle Earth, and the history of our own race."

The watcher looked nearly giddy with excitement. "Do you think, maybe, that I might look through some of them while we're here?"
Celeborn looked at him more closely and a small smile appeared on his stern visage. "A learned man I see."

"There's nothing like the smell of books and the anticipation of learning what's inside," Giles said with a sheepish grin.

Willow giggled and said, "Better watch out. Giles will start his books good, computers bad speech."

The elf looked at her curiously. "Computers?" He asked, rolling the strange word around on his tongue.

"They are these machines..." Willow began.

"Machines?"

"Oh dear."

Tara looked at the regal elf and smiled sweetly. "Perhaps Willow and I could look at the books, too, in exchange for us telling you about our world?"

A huge grin broke out on Celeborn's face and Galadriel leaned over to Buffy and Dawn to whisper, "I fear your friends have unknowingly unleashed a monster."

"Why do you say that?" Buffy asked.

"Now that my husband knows of their interest in books and knowledge, he may never let them go."

Dawn laughed. "That may not be much of a problem, seeing as those are three of the biggest bookworms I've ever met."

"Bookworms?"

"Umm, a bookworm is a person who spends a lot of time with their nose in a book."

Galadriel smiled in understanding. "Then maybe it is not so much of a problem after all."
"It is nearly mealtime," Celeborn said. "Maybe we should all get something to eat?"

Xander's eyes brightened. "Food? Sounds good to me."
"Would you like to change first?" Celeborn asked. "To help you blend in."

Spike gave him an incredulous look. "I hate to tell you mate, but I don't think a change of clothes will help us blend in. We'll stick out like bloody sore thumbs no matter what."

Draco and Xander nodded in agreement, but the girls had thoughtful looks on their faces. "How about we look at clothes after we eat?" Anya suggested.

"That would be acceptable," Galadriel said.

The scoobies followed the two elves to a large room where several other elves were already seated at tables eating their lunch. They sat down and began picking through some of the more exotic foods in front of them.

Xander grinned gleefully as he piled his plate high with assorted foods. Dawn heard one of the elves whisper, {Appetite like a hobbit that one.}
After lunch, they were shown to the house they would be staying in while they were there. Inside they found elven clothes to wear, so they quickly changed.

Dawn and Buffy opted to braid their hair in a similar style that they had seen the elves wear. The two sisters couldn't help but twirl girlishly around in their elvish gown as they looked at themselves in the mirror.

Buffy giggled. "I feel like a princess."

The brunette nodded. "I hope the other girls' dresses are as pretty."

They walked out of the room they had changed in to see the other girls grinning just as brightly as they were. The girls chatted excitedly among themselves until they heard a scream of rage emit from one of the guys' rooms.

Spike and Draco marched out with murderous looks on their faces.

"What's wrong?" Anya asked without looking up.

"We're wearing bloody tights! That's what's wrong!" Spike exclaimed.

The girls looked to see that the two Malfoy's were similarly dressed. Both had on tight, black leggings that showed off the muscles in their finely toned legs. They each wore beautifully embroidered tunics, Draco's a soft gray and Spike's in a brilliant blue, that were belted at the waist. Altogether they looked quite handsome.

Buffy shrugged and said, "What's the problem? You look fine."

Draco sputtered, "They're bloody tights!"

"Actually that's not correct," Willow supplied. "They're leggings, not tights."

"You're splitting hairs there, Red," Spike warned with a glare.

Before anybody else could say anything, Xander and Giles emerged from another room. Xander's face had the same dark look that Spike and Draco wore for he was similarly dressed.

The Malfoys began sputtering again. "How did you end up in a robe!" Spike cried.

Giles shrugged. "Perhaps they recognized the wisest and more distinguished of the group."

Spike just humphed.

*******

Later that night, Willow, Tara, and Giles were hidden away with Celeborn talking about books, history, and worlds. Buffy, Spike, Anya, and Xander were wandering about Caras Galadhon exploring the city and its people. Dawn and Draco sat in a cozy room with Galadriel drinking tea.

{What is it you wished to speak about?} Galadriel asked.

The brunette hesitated. She had so many questions about her life before the key, what kind of person she was, what she looked like, that she didn't know where to begin.

Draco reached over and softly grasped her hand, giving a gentle squeeze of encouragement. She flashed him a grateful look and turned back to Galadriel.

{I guess I just wanted to know who I was before.}

Galadriel smiled softly. {Much as you are now. It is an amazing thing how much you look as you once did, considering you were made from your sister.}

Dawn blinked in surprise. {How did you know that?}

{You forget that I have the gift of sight like you once had. I saw how the monks made you from Buffy's essence, which is why you share many of her attributes.}

{Yeah, like some of her slayer speed and strength.}

{Yes, but you have retained many of your elven qualities as well. Obviously you did not receive Buffy's height.}

Draco snorted. {That's the truth.} Everyone saw how Dawn towered over her older sister. She was nearly as tall as Draco's six feet.

{You also have the same eyes and luminous beauty,} Galadriel continued. {Indeed, looking at you now the only true difference between you and the past is your lack of pointed ears.}

{Really? I haven't changed that much? I'm that close to what she looked like?}

{Who you were,} Galadriel corrected gently. {My old friend Amaurëa is still you. While it is true that you that you may not access specific memories you've seem to retain many of the same feelings and instincts.}

The brunette thought it over carefully, and realized she was right. She seemed to know that Galadriel was a close friend, something she would have known whether or not she had read Nerdanal's journal.

They talked for several hours sharing stories. Galadriel told her of her time on Middle Earth, while Dawn told her about life in Sunnydale.

Draco just sat back and listened. He interjected his own thoughts and questions from time to time. But was mostly there to provide Dawn the emotional support she needed.

When it grew dark they called it a night. Dawn and Draco walked back to their house silently holding hands. They couldn't help but marvel at the beauty around them as the city of Caras Galadhon practically glowed in the darkness.

********

The next morning after breakfast, Haldir stopped by to see if Buffy and anyone else wanted to join him for target practice. Buffy naturally agreed, along with Dawn and Draco. Surprisingly Spike opted not to go and went exploring again with Xander and Anya. Willow, Tara, and Giles were already off with Celeborn.

Draco waited for the sisters to change into something more suitable. They found clothing similar to Draco's in their room and they quickly changed.

The four were at an archery range and Haldir decided to find out how good Buffy's slayer skills were. He handed her a bow and arrow without any instructions. He pointed to a target fifty yards away and told her to hit the center.

Buffy took a moment to center herself, then easily notched her arrow and pulled back. She held her breath as she lined up her shot and released the arrow.

Haldir look duly impressed as the arrow hit only inches from the center. "My lady, are you sure this is the first time you've used a bow?"

The slayer rolled her eyes. "How many times have I told you to drop the my lady stuff? Just call me Buffy. And yes, that was my first time. I told you, I'm naturally good with weapons."

Dawn spoke up. "Let me try." Buffy handed the bow over and Dawn was amazed at how natural it felt in her hands.

She grinned as in one swift motion she notched her arrow and pulled back. She studied her target for a second and released.

Not only was Haldir surprised, but so were Buffy and Draco, as her arrow hit right below Buffy's.

"Whoo hoo!" She cried and did a little dance.

"How did you do that?" Buffy asked.

Dawn shrugged. "Probably a combination from what I inherited from you and Nerdanal."

Buffy could only nod as she stared at Dawn's arrow in amazement.

********

The next several days passed quietly as the scoobies relaxed in the peaceful calm of Lothlórien. They had been there for five days when they noticed Celeborn and Galadriel became edgy. They had sent Haldir out with a group to patrol the forest.

Buffy, Dawn, and Draco continued their archery lessons on their own. By that time, Buffy and Dawn were shooting as well as the rest of the Galadhrim. While Draco wasn't doing too badly, he hadn't reached the level of proficiency of the girls.

There was a tension in the air so thick that they could almost cut it with a knife. Anytime one of them would ask what was going on they would receive vague answers and the conversation would turn to something else.

Dawn and Draco had been out for a walk on their seventh night when she said, ~Did you hear what those elves just said?~

~No, what?~

~There are other visitors here. Something about a dwarf and hobbits.~

~You think this might be what the hoopla has been about?~

~Maybe. Want to check it out?~

~Sure.~

They headed to the platform where they had first met Galadriel. They quickly found a place to hide themselves and watched as Haldir led eight people onto the platform.

~That's unusual.~ Dawn said.

~What?~

~There seems to be a representation of each race. Dwarves and elves don't get along, and yet, there is one of each.~

~What about the other four little people? The ones without shoes.~

~Hobbits, I think. There was a short chapter about them in that book Hermione got me for Christmas. Not much is known about them, they tend to keep to themselves.~

The two noticed that the group looked lost and travel-weary as if it had been a long, hard road to get there.

Dawn rubbed her ears.

~What's wrong?~

~Ever since I heard about them, there's been this buzzing noise in my head. And now it's kind of annoying.~

Before Draco could say more, they saw the white light that signaled the approach of Galadriel and Celeborn.

"The enemy knows you have entered here. What hope you had in secrecy is now gone," Celeborn said in a hard tone. "Eight there are here, yet nine there were set out from Rivendell. Tell me, where is Gandalf for I much desire to speak with him."
~Enemy? What enemy?~ Draco asked.

~Dunno.~

~And who is Gandalf?~

~He's a wizard, I think.~

"Gandalf the Gray did not pass the borders of this land," Galadriel said softly, in surprise. "He had fallen into shadow."

"He was taken by both shadow and flame," said the elf they didn't know. "A balrog of Morgoth."
~Morgoth. Why does that sound familiar?~

~Bad guy from Nerdanal's Tale.~ Dawn explained.

"Needless were none of the deeds of Gandalf in life," Galadriel was saying, "for we do not yet know his full purpose." She seemed to study each member of the group.

~Oh, she's doing that mind-piercing thing. Creepy.~ Draco said with a shudder.

"Do not let the great emptiness of Khazad-dûm fill your heart Gimli, son of Gloin," she said to the bearded dwarf. "For the world has grown full of peril, and in all lands love is mingled with grief."

Galadriel turned her gaze to one of the two men. He could only hold her eyes for a few seconds before turning away.

~Wonder what his problem was?~

Dawn only mentally shrugged.

"What now becomes of this fellowship?" Celeborn asked. "Without Gandalf, hope is lost."

"Your quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail, to the ruin of all," Galadriel said with a faraway look. A small smile appeared on her lips. "Yet hope remains while the company is true. Do not let your hearts be troubled, for you are not the only guests in our woods. Are they Amaurëa and Draco?"

The group were startled and looked around curiously. All eyes turned to Dawn and Draco as they stepped out of their hiding place.

"Hi," Dawn said with a guilty smile and nervous wave.