Just the epilogue left guys and it will be up next Sunday.

Review Responses:

John, I'm afraid there's not much more...

rcaqua, I'll try to make them just as good...

Kyra2, you'll find out about Dawn in this chapter...

Thank you guys so much for your reviews! You are awesome!

LOTR Notes:

I have no idea what Eorl's daughter's name was if he had a daughter, so I made one up to suit the purposes of my fic.

A/N: Because fanfiction. net 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!

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Partings

Ginny happily read through some scrolls that Legolas had brought to her from the library at Minas Tirith before he had left with the army. The beautiful Elven script had been hard to read at first, but by the eighth day it had become a little easier. Dawn hadn't given them a lot of lessons in the written form, just the spoken, but Ginny didn't really have a lot of other options of things to do. She was on her last day of enforced bed rest.

The best part of the day though, was the fact that she was finally alone. It wasn't that Faramir wasn't a nice guy or that she didn't love Éowyn like the sister she never had; she just needed to be away from the two of them. Faramir and Éowyn had been exchanging long looks that spoke volumes. She was happy for them, really she was. They both deserved to find happiness, but it only served as a reminder of the distance between her and Harry.

She blinked away the tears that were threatening to fall. It just wasn't fair. When Legolas and Aragorn had told her about Voldemort's impending attack she had wanted to go home right then, no matter how ill she still was. The man she loved was in the middle of a battle and she wanted to stand beside him. Part of her knew that she was too weak to be much help, in actuality she'd have been a liability. That didn't stop her from feeling guilty about it though.

Ginny set the scroll down, and closing her eyes she leaned back on the headboard. Although she was feeling better, she still had a tendency to get tired easily. She heard the sound of someone entering the room and she figured it was Éowyn and Faramir returning from their brief walk. However, the whispered voices weren't the ones she was expecting.

"She's sleeping," said a male voice.

"Should we wake her?" Asked a younger male voice.

"I don't know, she hasn't been well," said an older one.

"But it's been forever since we've seen her," said a voice a lot like the second one.

"You've waited longer," a fifth voice said in exasperation.

"We should go and let her sleep," a slightly stuffy voice said.

"But..." Argued the second one.

"No buts. Let's go," said the third one.

Ginny's eyes flew open to see all five of her brothers standing just inside the doorway. "Please tell me I'm not dreaming."

"She's awake!" Fred cried.

"Yes, we can see that," Percy said.

Ron rushed over to her and pulled her into his arms. "Gin, I was so worried. Willow had said you were hurt, then Aragorn said you were on death's door, but Dawn swore there wasn't a scratch on you and I just didn't know what to believe. I've missed you."

"Breathe Ron, breathe," Ginny said, the tears returning to her eyes. "What are you guys doing here?" She asked as her brothers crowded around her bed.

"Decided you were having all the fun," Fred said.

"How selfish of you," George added.

"Very selfish."

"That wouldn't do."

"So we came to see you."
"Since you obviously couldn't take the time to come see us."

Knowing she'd never get a straight answer from them, she turned to Bill. "Well?"

"We joined the aurors and your friends to fight you-know-who..." he began.

"What happened?" She interrupted.

"We won, he's dead," he said with a smile.

"And Harry? Where is he?"

"He's fine," Ron said. "He's in a meeting."

"Ok, but why are you here?"

Bill, with the help of the others, filled Ginny in on Dawn's plan and both battles. Her eyes widened throughout the whole tale. She couldn't believe that all that had happened while she had been stuck in bed resting.

"So Dawn's in that meeting then?" Ginny asked when they had finished. She knew something was wrong by their long faces. "What's wrong?"

XXXXXXXX

Buffy found Aragorn standing alone on a balcony overlooking the city. She moved to stand next him and gazed out over the horizon. After a few minutes she said, "Coronation is in two days. You ready for that step?"
"My people need me whether I am ready or not," he answered softly.

"That's the part that really sucks about destiny."

"How do you mean?" He asked, turning to face her with inquisitive eyes.

"That whoever up there who decides all of this for us, for me the Powers That Be, for you the..."
"Valar," he supplied.

"That the whoever decided that we were the ones who had to do or be these things without even thinking about whether we'd be ready or even able to do it. They just thrust us out there and say do it. Never once considering our own feelings on the matter," she said, her eyes never leaving the distant mountains.

"It does... suck," he said hesitantly, a small smile tugging at his lips.

She turned serious hazel eyes to his grey ones. "But once there, you discover that you were ready and maybe even want to do it. And if you look deeper you realize that you wouldn't trust..."

"Anyone else to do it," he finished for her. "I believe I know precisely what you mean."

"So are you ready then?"
"As ready as I am able," he said with a slight nod.

Buffy turned to leave and then stopped. She turned back and said, "Thank you for everything you did for Dawn."

"I only wish I could have done more."

"A word of advice - never use the 'W' word. You never know who might be listening," she warned before leaving him alone with his thoughts.

XXXXXXXX

As Dawn slowly floated into consciousness, she was aware that every muscle in her body ached. The throbbing in her head was only matched by the throbbing in her right side. "Ow," she whimpered.

"Amaurëa, you are finally awake."

It seemed that even her eyelids hurt as they fluttered opened. The soft candlelight seemed too bright as she squinted at the blurry figure that moved to the edge of her bed. Her vision cleared and she recognized Elrohir. "Where am I?" She asked, her voice dry and rusty from lack of use.

"Minas Tirith," he answered, helping her drink some water.

Her eyes widened. "How long have I been out?"

"Five days. The orc's blade had been poisoned. Your body needed time to fight it and recoup after your overuse of magic. You were exhausted."

"Buffy?"
"She is fine."

"Draco?"
Elrohir smiled and looked to the other side of her bed. With a grimace, she turned her head to see the man in question. He had somehow managed to fold his long body into an armchair and fallen asleep. There was a nasty looking scratch on the left side of his face, but other than that he looked unharmed.

"He has not left you side despite efforts to remove him for rest or food," Elrohir said. "I will inform you sister that you are awake." He placed a gentle kiss to her brow before standing. "I am happy that you are well."

"Me too," she said as he left the small room. She looked back over to Draco and her pain faded some as she thought of how much love was shared between them. He looked extremely uncomfortable there and she knew he'd pay for it when he woke up. Deciding to take pity on him, she sent him a querying thought. Are you going to sleep all day?

She could see him stir slightly so she tried again. Yo, Blondie! Are you in there?

Draco jerked awake and looked wildly around the room. Relief shone in his eyes as they fell upon Dawn's very awake and very smug form. He untangled himself and rushed over to her. Gathering her in his arms, he held her tightly and whispered in a thick voice, "I was so scared that I had lost you."
"Ow," she said, causing him to release her in alarm.

"I'm sorry."

"'S'ok. I ache and my side hurts a little," she said, pulling him back to her. He shifted until he was lying in the bed with her curled up to his side. "Mmmm, that's nice," she said as he ran his fingers through her hair.

Draco closed his eyes and relished the feeling of her against him. "Don't ever do that to me again," he said after a moment.

"Don't get stabbed by an orc again. Check."

"I'm serious. These past five days were the worst ones in my life."

"Well, I'm sorry. I didn't exactly plan to get hurt," she said a little testily.

He let go of her and sat up with his back to her. "No, I'm the one who's sorry. It's my fault you got hurt."

"What are you talkin..."

"I should have stayed by your side! If I had, that thing would have never got close enough to touch you. I screwed up and you're the one paying for it. I don't know what you see in a wanker like me."

"Are you finished beating yourself up?" She archly asked.

The blonde didn't answer. He just continued to stare down dejectedly at his hands.

"You silly boy," she admonished. He whirled around to stare at her in surprise. "There's no guarantee I wouldn't have been hurt if you had been next to me. For all we know I could have been killed, or even you."
"But..."

"Ah!" She protested as she sat up, only to fall back against the pillow in pain.

"See," he said, tears shining in his grey eyes.

She reached out and grabbed the front of his tunic. She pulled and when their noses were nearly touching. In a low, steady voice, she said, "It was not your fault. Got it?" He nodded his head. "Good. Now give me a proper kiss before the others get here and we lose our privacy."

XXXXXXXX

Three days later, the Scooby gang was gathered in the throne room with their friends from Middle Earth. Dawn had managed to open a portal the day before and sent the aurors and professors back home. They had stayed behind to tie up a few lose ends, but now they had finished all of the packing and were now saying their goodbyes.

Ginny reached up to hug Legolas. "Thank you so much for the music," she said, referring to the parchments that contained Elvish songs. "I can't wait to learn them."

"You have a beautiful voice, Lady Ginny, it deserves to be heard," he said with a gentle smile. "I look forward to hearing you sing again."

Take care, Amaurëa Elladan said as he gingerly hugged Dawn. And when you finish your schooling we would be honored if we could visit your world for a time.

That would be great! She said with a smile. You can come back with us when we return for Aragorn's secret shindig he's planning.

We look forward to getting new ideas for our practical jokes. Fred and George Weasley have already given us some inspiration, Elrohir said with a sly grin.

Dawn's eyes widened. You can't do anything to Aragorn now, he's king.

But now is the most important time to hassle him, Elladan sagely said.

Keeps his head from swelling, Elrohir explained.

"Does she suspect a thing?" Aragorn quietly asked Draco.

"Nothing. She's curious, but she believes it centers completely around you," Draco said, watching Dawn hug Gimli.

Aragorn smiled. "Good. Let's keep it that way. I would hate for your surprise to be spoiled."

"Me, too."

Speaking loudly over the din of goodbyes, Aragorn said, "My friends! I am saddened to see loved ones depart, but my heart rejoices in knowing that we will meet again. Before you leave however, Éomer King and his sister Éowyn have a few words they wish to say."

The two in question stepped up onto the lower dais in front of the throne. Dressed in their formal robes and looking every inch of the royal family, they smiled at their friends. Éomer began, "In recognition of bravery above recall and reminding us to judge someone on their deeds and compassion rather than their size or gender. The people of Rohan wish to thank Ginny, daughter of Molly and Arthur Weasley, for standing beside us in our time of strife. And more importantly, for fighting next to our own Shieldmaiden in defense of our late king, Théoden."

"We wish to present her with this gift," Éowyn said, revealing a delicate, yet deadly looking sword. Rohan knotwork designs were engraved on the blade and the pommel had two intricately designed horse heads. "It belonged to Éorl's daughter, Hild, the first Shieldmaiden of Rohan. Know that you and your kind are always welcome in our lands, Shieldmaiden of Rohan."

Ginny gaped at them in utter surprise while her family grinned at her in pride. Harry gave her a slight push and said, "Go on, you deserve it."

She stumbled forward to receive the priceless gift. "This is... I mean.. It's so... Wow," she said, her mind incapable of forming a complete thought.

A light laugh escaped Éowyn's lips as she hugged her friend. "Thank you, for everything."

Then Éomer took his turn at hugging the redhead. "You are a most remarkable lady," he said as the room erupted in applause.

When the applause died down, Gandalf spoke the words they were all dreading. "We must delay our friends no longer. They have responsibilities in their own world."
"Do not forget to return for our Mid-year celebration," Aragorn reminded them.

"Even though you won't tell us why it is so important to you, we'll be here," Buffy said. He just smiled mysteriously at her.

With tears flowing down her cheeks, Dawn opened the portal and they returned to their world.