Hello everyone! Sorry that it's taken so long to get this up. I had some health problems and couldn't write for nearly a week. Plus, I've discovered this story just gets harder to write the further I get into it.
Review Responses:
John, Zayra, thank you guys so much for your reviews.
harmoni, yeah, a lot of this is coming from the books. I enjoyed a lot of the stuff in the books more and it helped the story to flow easier.
Kyra2, thanks for the reviews for both this and my other fics.
buffyfan363, thanks, but the changes won't come for a while, but they will be there.
LOTR Notes:
For those who aren't as familiar with the story, Gandalf fell in the Mines of Moria after fighting the Balrog.
Oh, and I'm still taking suggestions for the song that Legolas will teach Ginny.
Chapter Sixteen
Moving Forward
Snape scowled as he watched Anya move about the room gathering objects she thought she might need. "I don't understand why you're the one who has to go," he said. "Why don't they send some aurors to check the places they found?"
Anya rolled her eyes, but continued packing her small bag. "Because, first off, some of the demons or beings might be afraid of humans and technically I'm not human, I'm a demon. Others may not trust demons and I usually go in human form. Plus, whoever goes searching needs to move quickly. I can teleport. Not to mention, the aurors have never met Frodo and Sam, but I have. I'm the only logical choice."
"Still doesn't mean I have to like it," he grumbled.
"Yes, I know. But it's not going to stop me from going."
He crossed to her and pulled her into his arms. "I just worry about you."
"Hey, I'm not exactly an easy target; I'm over a thousand years old. Hello, vengeance demon! We're not easy to kill."
"Knowing that doesn't help."
"I know," she said as she kissed him lightly on the cheek. "And I think it's absolutely adorable that you worry about me like this."
"I'm not adorable, you crazy woman."
"But you are, Sevie. You're an adorable, prissy little man, and I love you for it."
Snape froze and stared at her. "What did you say?"
"I said you were an adorable, prissy little man."
"No, after that."
"And I love you for it," she said softly, suddenly afraid of how he would take the news.
Then he did something that she had rarely seen him do in all their time together. He smiled.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
"Other than this ridiculous smile I can't get off of my face, nothing."
"I guess I'd better get going."
He kissed her gently on the lips and stepped back so he wouldn't be caught in her teleportation. "Anya, I love you, too."
Her squeal of delight echoed in his ears long after she was gone.
scenebreak
After breakfast the next morning, the remnants of the fellowship and their friends from Earth stood back to watch Aragorn do his thing. The man seemed to study every blade of grass before suddenly kneeling.
"A hobbit lay here, and the other." He squinted as he noticed something. "They crawled, and their hands were bound."
"How can he know that?" Ginny asked Dawn.
"I don't know. Do I look like a Ranger?"
"You don't have to be so testy," Ginny chided.
"Sorry. I'm just tired and worried about Merry and Pippin."
"We'll find them."
In the meantime, Aragorn had been carefully following the tracks. He held up a broken piece of rope. "Their bonds were cut. They ran over here," he said, starting to move faster. "They were followed."
Harry leaned over to Buffy. "This is strangely exciting."
She wordlessly nodded her head, her eyes watching Aragorn's every more in undisguised hope.
"The tracks lead away from the battle!"
"Thank Merlin," Draco whispered.
Aragorn stopped at the edge of the trees. "They went into Fangorn Forest."
"Great. The place of the living trees," Spike muttered.
"All trees are alive," Dawn pointed out with a smirk.
"Yeah, but these seem to be special living trees. Even elf-boy seems to be in awe of them."
"So now what?" Buffy asked, crossing to stand next to Aragorn. "Do we take the horses in Fangorn, or leave them here?"
"We will have to leave them here. They will be a hindrance in this forest," he said, making a decision.
"But they'll die!" Dawn protested.
"They will find their way home," Aragorn assured her. "There is plenty of grass for them to eat. Come, we must hurry."
Leaving the horses behind, the nine of them headed into the forest. Despite the fact that the sun was shining brightly in the sky, the forest was dim. However, instead of being cooler, the air was stifling and pressed down on them.
Gimli paused to finger a dark stain on a leaf. He tasted it then quickly spat it back out. "Ptui! Orc blood."
"Bet that was tasty," Draco grumbled under his breath. He couldn't help but be surly. They had been on the run for five days and it was beginning to take its toll on his temper. Not just his he noticed, as he looked at his friends' weary faces.
They moved quickly through the trees and Dawn was seeing the sense of leaving the horses behind. The ground was rough and large tree roots seemed to be everywhere. She could see Aragorn crouching ahead and moved up to hear what he was saying.
"These are strange tracks," he said, frowning.
Legolas seemed to be concentrating when he said, "This forest is old. Very old. Full of memory... and anger." The trees seemed to creak and groan in answer. "The trees are speaking to each other."
"Is he hearing the same thing we are?" Buffy asked, looking around at the trees. She noticed Gimli was holding his axe up defensively. "You might want to lower that if they are angry. There are more trees than us. I'm good, but not that good."
As the dwarf lowered his axe, Legolas smiled and said, "The trees have feelings, my friend. The elves began it. Waking up the trees, teaching them to speak."
Gimli only rolled his eyes and replied, "Talking trees. What do trees have to talk about? Hmmm? Except the consistency of bird droppings."
Harry couldn't stop the snort of amusement that escaped his lips. "At least we know who to blame."
"Aye, that we do lad," Gimli replied with a chuckle.
Buffy, Spike, and Legolas tensed at the same time. "Aragorn, nad nâ ennas!" The elf said urgently.
"Man conich?"
"I didn't catch that," Harry whispered.
"Something's out there," Ginny answered as she looked fearfully about.
"The White Wizard approaches," Legolas said, seemingly able to see through the trees to what they concealed.
"Do not let him speak. He will put a spell on us. We must be quick," Aragorn instructed them.
You and Draco go right, Spike and I will cover the left. Came Buffy's voice in Dawn's head. She mutely nodded and the four silently spread out into the flanking positions.
Ginny and Harry pulled their swords out and stayed behind Aragorn. They could see Legolas notching an arrow onto his bow and Gimli tightening the hold on his axe.
With a sudden yell, Gimli threw his axe while Legolas released the arrow at an approaching figure. They were easily deflected. Their swords became too hot to hold, forcing them to drop them. Buffy, Spike, Draco, and Dawn jumped from the bushes but were knocked back to the forest floor by an unseen force.
A bright white light was emanating from the wizard forcing the ones still standing to take a step back. They all had to shield their eyes.
"You are tracking the footsteps of two young hobbits," said the wizard.
"Where are they?" Aragorn asked.
"They passed this way the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?"
From her position on the ground, Dawn swore that it sounded like the man's voice was changing. And he spoke in a manner that said he knew the three members of the fellowship. She began to get a strange feeling in her tummy.
"Who are you? Show yourself!" Aragorn demanded.
The bright light dimmed to reveal an old man all dressed in white. Legolas and Gimli suddenly dropped to one knee and bowed their heads.
"It cannot be," Aragorn whispered.
"Forgive me. I mistook you for Saruman," Legolas said, with his head still bowed.
"I am Saruman. Or rather, Saruman as he should have been."
"Am I the only one who's confused here?" Draco asked Dawn. "Who is that guy?"
"I think it's Gandalf," she said, studying the figure in white.
"You fell," Aragorn insisted.
"Through fire and water. From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought with the Balrog of Morgoth."
"Yup, that's Gandalf," Dawn said, remembering that Merry and Pippin had said that he had died fighting the demon.
"Until at last I threw down my enemy and mote his ruin upon the mountainside," Gandalf was saying. "Darkness took me. And I strayed out of thought and time. Stars wheeled overhead and everyday was as long as a life age of the earth. But it was not the end. I felt life in me again. I've been sent back until my task is done."
"Gandalf," Aragorn said in relief, stepping closer to the wizard.
"Gandalf? Yes... That's what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey. That was my name."
Gimli stood and said, "Gandalf."
"I am Gandalf the White," he said with a twinkle in his eye. "I come back to you now at the turn of the tide. But first, you must introduce your new companions."
"This is Lady Buffy and her sister Lady Dawn. Master Spike and his nephew Master Draco. And Master Harry and Lady Ginny," Aragorn said as they said hello in turn. "They come from a different world."
"Yes, I was told as much by Lady Galadriel. She also told me of Frodo and Sam's fate." Gandalf looked at Buffy. "I only hope your friends can find them in time."
"No worries. Willow will turn over every stone on Earth to find them if she has to," Buffy assured him.
"What of Merry and Pippin?" Draco asked. "You said they passed through here."
"Yes, and it was more than mere chance that brought them to Fangorn. A great power has been sleeping here for many long years. The coming of Merry and Pippin will be like the falling of small stones that starts an avalanche in the mountains."
"In one thing you have not changed, dear friend. You still speak in riddles," Aragorn said with one of his rare smiles.
"Ah, yes. That reminds me. I bring messages from lady Galadriel."
"When did you see her?" Spike asked.
"I arrived only days after the fellowship left. I finished my healing there." He turned to Aragorn,
"Where now are the Dúnedain, Elessar, Elessar?
Why do thy kinsfolk wander afar?
Near is the hour when the Lost should come forth,
And the Grey Company ride from the North.
But dark is the path appointed for thee:
The Dead watch the road that leads to the Sea."
He then turned to Legolas and said,
"Legolas Greenleaf long under tree
In joy thou hast lived. Beware of the Sea!
If thou hearest the cry of the gull on the shore,
Thy heart shall then rest in the forest no more."
"Dark are her words," said Legolas. "And little do they mean to those that receive them."
Gandalf then looked at Dawn,
"Amaureä, with the beauty of summer
Your own magicks may warn the other.
His evil may hear the talk with a friend
But cannot pierce your heart and shield.
Sometimes, only when you are divided,
Can the fighting front be solid.
"Her last message is for Harry. She said that you need to remember that you'll only win the battle if you let your friends stand by you," he concluded with a smile.
"Thanks, I think," Harry said.
"Now, come! One stage of your journey is over, another begins. War has come to Rohan. We must ride to Edoras with all speed."
"Edoras? That is no short distance," Gimli said.
"We hear of trouble in Rohan. It goes ill with the king," Aragorn informed the wizard.
"Yes, and it will not be easily cured."
"Great," Spike muttered. "More problems."
scenebreak
Faith closed the door to the training room and turned to face the students. "Cop a squat guys." When all they did was give her strange looks, she rolled her eyes and said, "I mean sit down. Have a sit. Place you butts on the floor."
"Aren't we going to wait for the others?" Lavender asked.
"Nah," Faith said as she sat on the floor with them. "I told them not to come tonight. It's just going to be a special session between you guys and me."
"What kind of special session?" Seamus asked.
"I know I'm kind of new here and I don't know you like B did. So I wanted to take some time to get to know you guys better, and to find out why you're taking these extra sessions."
"We figured you already knew," Wayne said, a little confused.
"I only got some vague hints as to the whys and whatnots. I want to hear it from your mouths. That way nothing gets diluted, just the plain simple truth. Plus, the others should know, too."
Padma shifted uncomfortable on the floor. "Is there a reason for all of this?"
"Yes, there is. The reasons why you do something affects how much and what kind of effort you put into it. Let me ask you this. Why do you think B and the scoobies are so good at what they do?"
"Because they're friends?" Seamus asked.
"Sort of," Faith said.
It was Neville who spoke up next. "It's because of how well they know each other. They know the others almost as well as they know themselves. And they know how to use each other's strength and weaknesses."
"That's right."
"The same is time for Harry, Ron, and Hermione," Blaise said, starting to catch on. When Faith nodded her head, Blaise smiled and said, "You want us to get close to become as formidable team as the others."
Faith grinned and said, "Snake girl got it in one. And you guys can't start working as a group until you know why you're doing this."
"Why do you want to do it?" Wayne asked.
Sadness crept into the dark haired slayer's eyes and her grin faltered slightly. "First I did it because it was my destiny and it was fun. Then, it was because I wanted to be better than Buffy. And now I'm doing it to redeem myself."
"Redeem yourself? For what?" Padma asked.
"You guys don't know what happened?" They shook their heads no. "I'm not going to tell your everything now, but here are the highlights. I accidentally killed a man, went evil, killed another one, threatened and tried to kill the others, switched bodies with Buffy, and tortured Wesley. In the end, I went to jail."
"How?" Lavender asked. "The cops couldn't have stopped you or held you in prison."
"I went by choice," Faith said, raising her chin slightly. "I was doing penance. Then B needed that help last year and Wes got me out. Then he found a way to keep me out and I've been helping Angel in L.A. So what about you guys. Why are you here?"
"I want to be able to protect my parents if I have to," Blaise said. "They're spies for Dumbledore. And if they get caught, I might be the only one who can help them."
Neville took a deep breath and released it before saying, "My parents were driven insane by V...V...Voldemort. I want to help stop V...V...Vol...Voldemort so no other kid has to know what it's like."
"My sister, Parvati, was one of the few people killed last year during the attack on the school," Padma said quietly. "I wanted to become strong so I wouldn't end up the same."
"Parvati was my best friend," Lavender said as she reached out to squeeze Padma's hand in support. "What kind of best friend would I be if I hid from the monsters that killed her instead of fighting them?"
"Mine is somewhat the same," Seamus said in his Irish brogue. "I'm not letting my friends fight without me."
They all turned to look a Wayne. "Hey, I'm just here for the workout," he said with a shrug. Faith raised an eyebrow. "Ok, ok. I want to be an auror one day and I figured this would help me out for the future."
"There, see that wasn't so hard, was it?" Faith asked with a grin. "So what's your favorite color?"