Hello everyone! Brand new chapter here for ya. The next will be up on Sunday. J
Review Responses:
Harmoni, no chance of me abandoning this fic any time soon. I've figured out a way to make the writing just a little easier on me. And I'm feeling loads better. I'm even able to sleep without any sort of medication now. Whoo hoo!!!
John, the messages for Aragorn and Legolas were from the book, I obviously made up the other two. The messages will get explained in time. For some of the clarification though, look in my LOTR notes.
Buffyfan363, I'm a little tired of the same old lines too, which is why I've been pulling some things from the book. But I have to admit, I like the way Peter Jackson did some things as opposed to Tolkien. And I'm glad you liked Faith's little pep talk. My whole idea is that since she is different from Buffy, she'd treat them differently than she did. You'll see more evidence of differing attitudes soon.
Kyra2, I'm not sure she's going to confuse them, but she's definitely going to give them a different perspective on things.
Thank you guys for all of your reviews, you rock!!
LOTR Notes:
The messages to Aragorn and Legolas in the last chapter were from the book, it will get explained much like it did in the books. As for Dawn's message, you'll just have to wait and see for that.
Aragorn has several different names which is why he can get a little confusing at times. When he was living in Rivendell as a child he was called Estel, which means hope. At twenty he learned that his true name was Aragorn and about his heritage. When he became a Ranger he went by the name of Strider because he had long legs and therefore had long strides. Aragorn, in this story and LOTR, is 88 years old. He has long life because of his Numenorean blood. For a while, he spent time in both Rohan and Gondor serving the kings and he went by the name of Thorongil. Bilbo calls him Dunedain, which refers to his race, he's also been called Elessar. Poor, poor man. So many names…
The song Legolas teaches Ginny in this chapter is from Fellowship of the Ring and is the story about Nimrodel.
General Notes:
Because seems to have issues in allowing special characters used in these fics. When they are speaking Elvish it will look like this. When telepathy is being used, it will look like this.
Special thanks to my beta, PuNKyCoWGiRl, I keep forgetting to thank her. So an extra huge thanks goes to her!!!
Chapter Seventeen
Teaching Everywhere
After Gandalf retrieved his grey cloak and put it on, the company headed out. When they reached the edge of the forest Gandalf stopped and whistled strangely three times. The sound seemed to echo over the rolling plains.
A moment later, a large white horse came running towards them, followed by their own mounts. They came to a stop in front of the wizard.
"This is Shadowfax," he said with a smile as he ran a hand over the horse's neck. "He's the lord of all horses and he's been my friend through many dangers."
"Is that why the horses came back with him?" Dawn asked as she happing rubbed Léofa's nose. She had quickly fallen in love with the chestnut colored horse the day before and was happy to see him again.
"Yes, Amaurëa," he said with a chuckle. "Shadowfax probably sought them out shortly after you released them."
Ginny sighed softly to herself as she realized she was going to have to spend another day on horseback. However, after yesterday, she wasn't as afraid of them, but was still hesitant around them. Honestly, the things outweighed her by at least a thousand pounds. She waited patiently until Aragorn sat astride Hasufel.
"Perhaps you would feel more comfortable riding with Master Harry," Aragorn said.
"I don't know," Harry said as he struggled to mount Baldor. "I don't think I'm ready to ride with someone else."
"Very well," Aragorn said, one corner of his mouth twitching slightly upwards. He reached down and said, "Come Lady Ginny. I'm afraid you have to ride with me a while longer."
"It's ok," she said, blushing slightly.
They rode on for the rest of the day and didn't stop until after the sun had set. Even Aragorn seemed to be moving stiffly as they set up camp. Before long they had a small fire going and had eaten a light meal.
"Harry, let's practice with your sword for a little bit," Spike said, standing and pulling out his own blade.
"Can't it wait?" Harry asked wearily.
"Sure, I'll tell all the bad guys in this world to not attack you since you were too lazy to learn how to use your weapon. We've been here for nearly a week and we've been lucky. Now get your ass off the ground and come on."
"I'm coming," he grumbled and he followed Spike. Gimli got up to join them.
Ginny crossed their small camp to sit next to Legolas. "Can you teach me that song now?"
"It is quite late. Wouldn't you rather sleep?" He asked.
"I'm tire, but not sleepy. I need something to help me wind down so I can sleep. So what do you say?"
"Okay. Repeat after me: An Elven-maid there..."
"No. Teach me in Elvish," she said.
"I did not know you spoke our language, Lady Ginny," he said in some surprise.
"Sort of. Dawn was teaching us for a while. But this is an easy way to practice. Besides, it sounds prettier in Elvish," she added sheepishly.
He smiled. "It does at that. Let us begin again. An Elven maid there was of old."
She sang the words softly back to him.
"You have a lovely voice," he said.
A blush crept up Ginny's neck. "Thanks. What's next?"
A shining star by day.
Dawn snuggled into Draco's arms as she listened to her best friend sing. Her beautiful voice was only marred by the sound of clashing metal from Harry and Spike's practice.
"Something is bothering me about Galadriel's message," Draco said softly.
"Well it wasn't exactly filled with hugs and puppies," Dawn said dryly. "I don't know why it would worry you."
"It's not that. It was almost as if I had heard part of it before."
"When would that have happened?" She asked, craning her neck around to look up at him.
"I'm not sure, but I'll figure it out."
Buffy moved to stand next to Aragorn and Gandalf who were looking out over the fields. As she got closer she could hear Gandalf's soft voice.
"The veiling shadow that glowers in the east takes shape. Sauron will suffer no rival. From the summit of Barad-dûr, his Eye watches ceaselessly. But he is not so mighty yet that he is above fear. Doubt ever gnaws at him."
"That's always good," Buffy said, entering the conversation. "If the bad guy is unsure, he can be tricked into making mistakes."
"True, true," Gandalf agreed. "But a rumor has reached him. The heir of Númenor still lives. Sauron fear you, Aragorn," the wizard said, looking at the younger man. "He fears what you may become."
Personally, Buffy found the thought heartening. As long as the enemy knew fear, then he couldn't move too freely just yet.
"So he'll strike hard and fast at the world of Men," he was saying, pulling Buffy out of her thoughts. "He will use his puppet Saruman to destroy Rohan. War is coming. Rohan must defend itself, and therein lies our first challenge for Rohan is weak and ready to fall. The king's mind is enslaved, it's an old device of Saruman's. Sauron and Saruman are tightening the noose. But for all of their cunning, we have one advantage."
"What's that?" Buffy asked.
"The Ring remains hidden."
"Yeah, but from us too," she pointed out.
"Yes, but that we should seek to destroy it has not yet entered his darkest dreams."
Aragorn nodded thoughtfully. "Because they don't understand why we would not use such an obvious method of power ourselves."
"There's another advantage that they don't know about," Buffy said with a grin.
Gandalf turned to look at her with a curious expression. "And what is that?"
"That you have six new Champions on your side."
"Who are they?"
"Me and the others," Buffy said.
"You and the others?"
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Galadriel probably forgot to mention that I'm a slayer, Spike's a vampire and does magic, along with Dawn Draco, Ginny, and Harry. Not to mention there's bondings, prophecies, and blessings from the Powers That Be on all six of us."
"Indeed?"
"Indeed," Buffy said with a smug look. "We're a small army unto ourselves. The bad guys won't know what hit them."
scenebreak
Wesley wearily got to his feet and stretched. The book he was reading wasn't going anywhere and he really needed a break. He walked to his window, which overlooked the courtyard and looked down to watch the students.
He smiled as he watched Faith mercilessly chase the students. She had decided that knowing the steps to protect themselves would mean nothing if they weren't in shape. Therefore, she started them on a strict exercise program. Even Hermione, who usually helped him research, was out there running.
How quickly Hermione's mind worked never ceased to impress him. She caught on and saw things that he would have overlooked. It was her that pointed out that they needed someone to help them integrate magic into what Faith was teaching them. Apparently Spike had been taking care of it, but now there was no one. The Gryffindor had suggested Remus to help out and he had readily agreed.
Wesley frowned as he thought of all the letters coming in badgering Dumbledore for hiring a werewolf. Like it bloody mattered. It wasn't Remus' fault that he underwent a transformation a few nights every month. When they made it through all of this, he considered offering the werewolf a job in L.A. The man was certainly seemed competent enough, although his true loved seemed to be teaching.
Remus had a gift for teaching. Wesley knew that it was one thing to be knowledgeable, but it was another thing entirely to be able to pass it on to others. Remus was able to do it effortlessly.
Not only that, the man was easy to get along with and was less judgmental than others. When Faith had told him of her past the werewolf just simply nodded and said if she ever needed someone to talk to he would be there. Wesley chuckled slightly at the memory. Faith had never met anyone who calmly accepted what she had done and what she was currently doing, except for Angel. Angel she had understood because he was following the same path of redemption. But here was a simple man taking her words at face value and was willing to lend a helping hand.
He only hoped that Buffy and the others were faring better in Middle Earth. They had come no closer in finding Frodo and Sam's whereabouts. Indeed, he only hoped that the two hobbits had somehow managed to end up in the same place together. This world was scary enough as it was, but it would be worse to someone out there alone who was unaccustomed to the dangers and ways of this world.
Watching Faith herd the students back indoors, he decided to return to his book. Sighing softly to himself, he sat down and began reading.
scenebreak
At midmorning they rode up to a single, rocky hill rising out of the plains. A short distance behind it, mountain peaks loomed over it. They could see a town on top of the smaller hill.
"That is Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld. There dwells Théoden, King of Rohan whose mind is overthrown. Saruman's hold over him is now very strong. Be careful what you say. Do not look for welcome here," Gandalf cautioned them.
"There's a comforting thought," Draco muttered with a roll of his eyes. He didn't understand why Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli were so glad to see the wizard. It seemed that the man spoke of nothing but gloom and doom. But as they rode through the town he could see the truth of his words. The people watched them in wary silence.
"You'll find more cheer in a graveyard," Gimli said softly.
The others chose not to comment, but rode on towards the great hall that sat atop the hill. They soon dismounted and climbed the stairs. A man a several guards came through the doors to stop them.
"I am the Doorward of Théoden. My name is Háma," said the man in front. "I cannot allow you before Théoden King so armed, Gandalf Greyhame, by order of Gríma Wormtongue."
Gandalf nodded to them to do as they were told. Legolas gave over his twin knives and his quiver and bow, while most of the others reluctantly did the same. Aragorn, Buffy, and Spike remained unmoving, however.
"It is not my will to put aside my sword or to deliver Andúril to the hand of any other man," Aragorn said.
"We have not the time for this," Gandalf said. He pulled out his own sword. "Here at least is my sword, goodman Háma. Glamdring it is called. Now come, Aragorn, Buffy, Spike."
Aragorn gritted his teeth in annoyance but slowly unbuckled his sword and leaned it against the wall. "Here I set it, but I command you not to touch it, nor to permit any other to lay hand on it. This is the Blade that was Broken and has been made again. Death shall come to any man that draws Elendil's sword save Elendil's heir."
Háma looked startle, but silently nodded as he accepted the knife that Aragorn wore at his hip. He then turned to Buffy and Spike.
"Might as well since he gave up his family heirloom," Buffy said to Spike.
Spike nodded and handed over his sword and two daggers he kept in his belt.
Buffy reluctantly handed over her bow and quiver. She had treasured the gift from Galadriel greatly. She then handed the guard her own set of twin knives. Bending over she removed two daggers from inside her boots. After relinquishing them, she pulled two more from her wrists.
"Is that all?" Háma asked.
Letting out a suffering sigh, she pulled another dagger that was concealed at the small of her back and even handed over a stake.
"You brought a stake?" Spike asked.
"Habit," she said with a shrug.
"Now is that all?" The man asked.
"Yup."
"My lady, I didn't know you were so well armed," Aragorn said in surprise. She had repeatedly told them that she was a warrior, but he had yet to see her in action. Her ability to conceal so many weapons from him and the others caused her to rise slightly in his eyes.
She just grinned cheekily at him.
Háma then looked at Gandalf and said, "Your staff."
Gandalf was leaning heavily on it and said, "Oh. You would not part an old man from his walking stick would you?"
The Doorward thought it over and then nodded in acceptance. He gestured for them to follow.
Dawn caught the sly wink that Gandalf gave Aragorn and hid her smile. His staff was no more a walking stick then their wands were random sticks. The wizards and witches were still carrying weapons that the poor man didn't even know of. Plus, Buffy and Spike were walking weapons. It wasn't as if they were going in completely helpless.