The Caves of Moria

Dawn stared at the man who was standing at the door of the Hyperion. "Buffy's what?"

"Gone. The Powers were making things right."

"What do you mean right? Things weren't right?"

"He means Buffy wasn't meant to come back," Willow murmured more to herself than anyone. "The First came because Buffy came back. So now that she defeated the First, she had to go away."

"You mean back to Heaven?"

Whistler shook his head. "No. She went to a place that needed her as much as this world did. She'll be fine. She can't die anyway. When she went through the portal, the Powers shaped her to help with the cause."

"Shaped?" Xander parroted angrily.

"Oh, there was nothing big. Made her ears pointed, made it so she couldn't die unless she got served a fatal wound."

"Pointy ears? What is she? An elf?" Whistler gave a wry smile but changed the subject.

"Before she went, she wanted all of you to know that she loves you and I can tell you, she didn't want to go. She almost staked me."

"It serves you right! You took her away from us! We were happy! We didn't need you to go around fixing things!" Dawn's tears were blurring her vision but she kept her glare on the balance demon in front of her.

"Dawnie, we shouldn't have brought her back."

"How could you say that?" She turned towards Willow. "She's your best friend! How could you not want her back?"

"I want her back and I always will but we- I messed with powerful stuff and I'm not surprised that they had to make it right again.

"But why now?" Wesley looked to the demon. "Why after the First?"

"Balance." He smiled at Dawn and walked out.

Dawn glared at the doorway and ran up the stairs, three at a time. "Dawn, wait!"

Buffy watched in amusement as Boromir taught Merry and Pippin how to use their swords until she felt something on the edge of her evil radar. She looked to her left and noticed a dark cloud of something coming towards them.

She tugged on Legolas's sleeve and pointed. He jumped up to have a look and Buffy just stayed where she was. Slayer capabilities mixed with Elvin capabilities really put her at an advantage.

"It's just a dark cloud," Gimli observed.

"Moving against the wind," Boromir noted. Buffy could now see that they were strange bat like birds.

"Crebain! Everybody hide!" The fire was stomped out and any trace of the camp they'd made was erased. Legolas grabbed Buffy around the waist and hurled them both under a rock. They watched as the creatures got closer and passed over them. Legolas's hand was still around Buffy's waist even though the threat was gone.

Buffy felt tingly at the touch and knew that if she didn't take her mind off the fact that an extremely hot elf was holding her to him, she was sure to turn around and kiss him. She gathered up all of her self-control and removed Legolas's hand from her waist, rolled out from under the rock and looked for everyone else.

While everybody got their stuff together, Buffy looked towards Legolas and caught him staring at her. She smiled mischievously and got her stuff together.

Soon they found themselves waist deep in snow. Or in the hobbit's and Gimli's case shoulder deep. Buffy watched in envy as Legolas walked around on the top. He caught one of her glares and frowned. "You should not feel the cold, Buffy. You are an Elf."

He was right. She didn't. "I guess I'm just used to seeing snow and going 'brrr cold', so my body feels that way."

"You can also walk as I am." Buffy smiled at the thought.

"Hey, you're right. Help me up." Legolas pulled Buffy up and noted how light she was. Buffy put her feet down and found she didn't sink. She smiled and walked to the front of the line. "Gandalf, I don't think the hobbits can take much more of this. They're turning blue." Gandalf looked back and the hobbits were indeed turning blue.

"We can go through the mines of Moria. We shall receive a royal welcome from my cousin Balin," Gimli said jovially.

"The only reason I would go through the mines was if I had no other choice. We must keep moving." Buffy got a creepy feeling as Gandalf had spoken.

"There is an evil presence here."

"It is Saruman." A rumble was heard and Buffy fearfully looked up. "He's trying to bring down the mountain." Gandalf muttered an incantation but a mound of snow fell on them. Legolas and Buffy were the first to dig their way out as they were higher than the rest. They went to work helping the others out.

"Gandalf, you can't make them go on like this! It's inhumane!"

"Let the Ring-bearer decide," he said and everyone turned to Frodo and he looked at Gandalf sadly.

"We shall take the path through Moria," Frodo wasn't able to meet Gandalf's gaze.

Gandalf's face grew troubled and he sighed. "So be it."

Everyone watched as Gandalf searched for the door. "How come you can't find it?"

"It can only be seen if the moon is out." As if he had muttered an incantation, the moon came out of the clouds and light an arched design.

Buffy read it and was surprised when she understood every word of it. "Speak, friend and enter." Gandalf said a few things then sat down to think about it. Once they had settled down, Buffy saw how tired they all were and was surprised to find herself in the same condition. Moments ago she could have taken on ten vamps at once.

She heard someone come up behind her and hearing the lightness of the footfalls, she knew it was Legolas. "Has Gandalf figured it out yet?"

"No. He is still trying to remember. I thought you couldn't hear me when I did that."

"I couldn't. It's only because I was actually listening for something to happen that I did." He sat down beside her and stared out at the lake. "I wonder what's down there."

"What's down where?"

"Oh, come on. Don't tell me you can't feel something down there."

"Oh. That. I've been here a few times already so I am accustomed to it. As long as no disturbs the lake everything will be fi-" Buffy closed her hand over his mouth. She could his breath on her hand and it tickled.

"Don't say it. If you say it then something will disturb the lake and . . ." She looked around and saw Merry throwing pebbles into the lake, sending ripples on the smooth surface. "Damn it!"

Aragorn got to him before she could though and she sat back down. She yawned and mentally winced. Legolas looked at her and she tried to look awake but she was just so tired.

"Buffy," he warned.

"I know, I know. If I'm tired I should go to sleep. I just don't like being caught off my guard. One, it's embarrassing and two, it could get me killed."

"Sleep. I will watch over you." Buffy smiled gratefully and looked for something to lean on. She smiled slyly and her eyes flickered to Legolas. He began to get wary but it was too late. Buffy stretched and leaned on his shoulder to sleep. He sighed but didn't move, not wanting to wake her.

"It's a riddle! Speak 'friend' and enter. Gandalf, what's the Elvish word for friend?" Frodo exclaimed.

Buffy jumped and looked for the sound. Legolas put a reassuring hand on her arm and she calmed considerably. Gandalf looked at Frodo and said, "Mellon." No sooner had he said it then the doors opened.

They all gathered up their things and headed into the caves. "Soon, Master Elf, you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the Dwarves!" Gimli boasted. "Roaring fires, malt beer, ripe meat off the bone."

Gandalf put a crystal in his staff and it illuminated the cave. Everyone stopped dead and they heard Boromir whisper, "This is no mine. It is a tomb."

"No! Noooo!"

Legolas checked the arrows then jumped back and knocked his own. "Goblins!"

Suddenly there was a yell from Frodo as the group saw a huge tentacle dragging him back outside. Buffy ran and latched on as the monster itself emerged from the depths. She got her sword then sliced off the tentacle just above where Frodo was hanging on.

The monster, however, did not like being severed from its limbs and it swung Buffy around like a rag doll. She hung on grimly until it stopped and then three arrows sprouted under its chin and it bellowed in rage. It dropped Buffy and she was falling, all over again but this time she was caught. She looked up and Legolas was smiling at her.

He put her down and knocked three more arrows. Buffy saw a tentacle aiming for the elf and somersaulted over him, where she took her blade severed the tentacle from as far as she could reach. Legolas fired and the beast faltered.

He put his bow back and drew his sword. Then at once, all four swordsmen/woman attacked and the beast bellowed not from anger but from the pain. Buffy sympathized little for the creature as she twisted the sword but was suddenly flying through the air and collided with the rock face. The last thing she saw was Legolas jumping up the tentacle and slitting its throat before blacking out.

The beast still trying to reach anybody, Legolas slid out of the fight and went to Buffy. She was bleeding from various places and she had two long gashes on her arm from God knows what.

He picked her up and Aragorn demanded that everybody fall back into the caves. "Run!" Legolas faltered then looked at the young woman in his arms. The monster lashed out and rocks started to tumble from the entrance. "Hurry!"

Everyone watched as the entrance caved in and Gandalf sighed. "Now there is only one choice. We must face the darkness of Moria."

"Gandalf, Buffy is hurt."

"We will stop later on. Now, we must keep moving." Legolas nodded and moved on with everyone else.

Willow sighed and looked at the girl lying next to her. She looked so peaceful when she was sleeping. She snuck out of bed and out of their room. She wandered down towards the kitchen when she heard to voices coming from Angel's office.

"Look Peaches. You don't have to worry about telling them. I'll see them in the morning."

"Spike, I told you that they won't believe it's you. They'll think you're the First or something."

"I'm solid, Dead Boy. I'm also human again." Willow turned to find the former vampire staring at her. "Hey Red."

"Spike. Did Angel tell you about Buffy?"

"No." He frowned. "Is something wrong?"

"Whistler came for her. She's gone, Spike." Willow was heartbroken at the look of despair on his face.

"No. She can't be. I-I c-came back for her."

"You might wanna speak English sometime."

"I was where she wanted to be." Her eyes widened.

"No! You couldn't have been. It's impossible."

"The PTB shoved me up there. Said I was a Champ."

"Oh Goddess. I'm so sorry. Dawn will be happy to see you, though, You still have her," Willow reassured him then added, "And us."

Aragorn frowned at the blonde woman the Hobbits were trying to revive. She had been out for two days. He looked towards Gandalf who sat on a rock, staring at three doorways. They had no idea whatsoever of which way to travel and Gandalf had demanded that someone try to revive her before they continued.

"Strider, she's not wakin' up."

"Let me check her wounds." Aragorn kneeled down and pulled away the bandage that covered her upper arm. He was mildly surprised that there were no scars were the cuts had been. "She's completely healed."

"She's an Elf, isn't she?" Boromir stated.

"No, I mean that there's no trace of any wound whatsoever." Even Legolas was intrigued.

"God, even in this world I'm a freak." Everyone looked and saw Buffy grinning at them. "What did I miss?"

"We're in Moria. Gandalf forgot which way to go."

"It's this way!" Gandalf stood up and pointed towards the middle pathway.

"He's remembered!" Merry told everyone.

"No, but the air doesn't smell so foul down here. If in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose."

Buffy looked around the Dwarf City of Dwarrowdelf, frowning. "Something's not right here. There's definitely something creepy." Legolas nodded. They all looked towards Gandalf. Gandalf pointed to a chamber nearby.

"In there." Everyone made their way cautiously towards the chamber, looking behind them every now and again. When Gimli stepped into the room, a look of horror came over his face.

"No! Noooo!" He ran sobbing and collapsed beside the tomb that the room held. Boromir moved towards the Dwarf and placed a calming hand on his shoulder. Gandalf approached the tomb and translated for the rest of them.

"Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria. He is dead, then. It is as I feared." Gimli let out a wail at the words. Gandalf gives his hat and staff to Pippin and reaches down to take a book from a corpse's hold.

"They have taken the bridge and the second hall. We have barred the gates but cannot hold them for long. The ground shakes." Buffy looks around and starts clearing things away from the door. Pippin backs away from the wizard as Aragorn and Legolas follow Buffy's lead, knowing there will be a fight.

"Drums . . . drums . . . in the deep. We cannot get out. A shadow moves in the dark. We cannot get out. They are coming . . ." Pippin moves to examine a skeleton perched on the well near the tomb. He fiddles with the arrow and the skull drops off and with a resounding clash, falls into the well.

Gandalf spins around in shock. Pippin looks guiltily at him as the body follows the head. He winces at each sound and Gandalf looks at him, outraged. "Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time and spare us your stupidity!" He snatches his hat and staff back, leaving Pippin to stand awkwardly behind him.

Suddenly a beat arises from the gloom. "Frodo, look!" Everyone looks to Frodo's sword, Sting, which glowed blue.

"Orcs!" Legolas knocks an arrow to his bow and waits, as does Aragorn. Boromir rushes to the door and evades an arrow. Aragorn drops his bow and runs to help Boromir close the door.

Boromir slightly rested on the door before unsheathing his sword. "They have a cave troll." Legolas throws weapons to them to barricade the door before they take up their positions once more.

Gimli leaps atop Balin's tomb brandishes his axe. "Let them come! There is one Dwarf yet in Moria who still draws breath!" The Orcs outside started banging on the door and before long, they started to chop through the wood.

As soon as there was a hole begin enough Legolas shot and there was a shrill cry from beyond. Soon enough they broke through the door and that was when the fighting began.

As Aragorn, Legolas, Boromir, Gimli and Buffy start to cut down trolls, Gandalf and the Hobbits throw themselves into the fray. Buffy was relishing the fight and was giving it all she got. When she felt something weird she stopped in the middle of a fight and just as the Orc was about to cut her down a swing dislodged his head.

Buffy just stared at the doorway as the cave troll came smashing in, dragging an Orc behind it. It spotted Sam staring up at it and he almost got squished until he dived in between it legs.

Buffy ran and chopped down the Orc that was holding its chains and took hold of them herself. When it turned to see Sam cornered, Buffy pulled and it hands jerked back and at first she thought it was going to topple over and squish her but it twisted its arm and sent Buffy flying across the room.

"Not this time!" She turned and made sure that her boots are facing the wall. She pushed off and dived at the troll again. Aragorn and Boromir now had hold of the chains but the troll copied its previous movement and sent Boromir flying. Buffy sighed and grabbed hold of the chain again, making sure to hold on properly.

Gimli, still standing on top of Balin's tomb, slung one of his axes into the trolls shoulder beside an arrow wound that Legolas had made. The troll smashed his mace down onto the tomb, shattering it and knocking Gimli off.

Buffy and Aragorn let go of the chain before the troll got too angry with them and as soon as the Orcs saw, they rushed them. Buffy had just finished and Orc when she saw the predicament Frodo was in.

"Frodo!" Aragorn slowly made his way towards the Hobbit.

"Aragorn? Aragorn!" Buffy tried to help Aragorn but there were too many Orcs.

"Aragorn, forget about the Orcs! Go help him!" Aragorn nods once then sprints off. Buffy saw Boromir get up and slowly made her way over to him. "You think you're ready to fight?"

He smiles and picks up his sword. "Always." Buffy and Boromir found themselves back-to-back fighting a horde of the evil little creatures and slowly inching towards the others.

"Frodo!" Buffy turned and saw Frodo, lying there with a spear in his chest.

"Damn it!" Buffy started fighting with vigour and soon found that there weren't any Orcs left. She looked for the toll and found it lying dead on the ground with a green fletched arrow in its chin. She ran towards everyone else and kneeled beside the Hobbit along with Aragorn. "Is he OK?"

"I'm all right. I'm not hurt." She looked towards him with a frown.

"You should be dead! That spear would have skewered a wild boar."

Frodo pulled down his shirt and showed everyone the mithril coat he was wearing. "Mithril! You are full of surprises, Master Baggins," Gimli said in awe. When Orcs were heard down the hall, Buffy helped the Hobbit up and turned towards the others.

"Towards the bridge of Khazad-dum!" Everyone rushed out the door and into the hall. With Gandalf in the lead, lighting their way, they ran through the hall being chased by Orcs and some Orcs crawled from the ceiling down the pillars, reminding Buffy eerily of spiders.

The Fellowship were finally surrounded and as the Orcs leered and snarled, Buffy glared. She knew she wouldn't be able to take them on but she sure wanted to try. A fiery light suddenly appeared at the end of the hall and the Orcs fled.

"What is this new devilry?" Boromir asked. Gandalf closed his eyes then opened them again.

"A Balrog. A demon of the ancient world." A growl came from the fiery light and Buffy started to get fidgety. "This foe is beyond any of you. Run!" Once again the Fellowship started running towards a small doorway. "Hurry!" Gandalf shepherded them in and before he too joined them, he took a look behind his shoulder.

"Lead them on Aragorn! The bridge is near!" Aragorn made towards him but Gandalf pushed him away. "Do as I say!" Aragorn's face mirrored the confusion of them all. "Swords are no more use here!" When the Balrog roared once more, Aragorn nodded and lead them towards the bridge.

The Fellowship went down a flight of stairs but encountered a gap halfway. Legolas leapt across and turned. "Gandalf." Gandalf leapt after him and when he landed on the other side arrows fly to the spot where Gandalf had been standing. Legolas knocked an arrow while Buffy jumped across.

While Legolas covered them, Boromir grabbed Merry and Pippin and jumped across. Aragorn threw Sam across where he is caught by Boromir. Aragorn turns towards Gimli but he shook his head.

"Nobody tosses a Dwarf!" He jumped across but almost fell back into the chasm. Buffy grabs him by the beard. "Not the beard!" As Aragorn got ready to jump across with Frodo, the stairs started to crumble beneath their feet.

Aragorn put a hand on Frodo's shoulder. "Steady! Hold on!" As the stairs began to wobble, Aragorn held fast to Frodo's shoulder. "Lean forward!" With both of them they tipped the staircase towards the others and they leapt across to safety.

Together the Fellowship ran and they knew if they didn't get across the bridge soon, they would fall victim to the Balrog. "Over the bridge! Fly!" Everyone fled across the bridge and turned to wait for Gandalf.

That's when they saw the Balrog. A huge black shadow wreathed in fire standing before Gandalf. "You cannot pass!"

"Gandalf!" Buffy turned to Frodo and fought the urge to cry.

"I am the servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you, Flame of Udun! Go back to the shadow!" Gandalf gathered the last of his energy and raised his sword and staff together. "YOU . . . SHALL NOT . . . PASS!" He drove his staff into the bridge and a bright flash of blue light appeared.

The bridge collapsed before his staff and the demon plunged into the darkness of the chasm, still wielding its glowing whip. As it falls, Gandalf turns to rejoin the others when out of the darkness the flaming whip lashed out and wound around Gandalf's ankle, dragging him down and over the edge.

He grabbed onto a crack in the bridge and struggled to pull himself back up. "Gandalf!" He looked into Frodo's eyes and stopped struggling.

"No!" Boromir restrained Frodo from rushing toward the wizard.

"Fly you fools!" He let go and fell into darkness.

"Nooooooooooo!" Boromir picked the struggling Hobbit up and ran outside as the Orcs arrived. The Fellowship ran out into the light of day and everyone just seemed to deflate.

Pippin lay on the ground, crying while Merry just sat by him, trying to console him. Sam sat down and started to weep. Legolas just stood there, staring into nowhere in disbelief and puzzlement. Boromir refrained Gimli from going back into Moria and left him to vent his anger. Buffy stared at Frodo in sorrow, knowing what it was like to lose someone you cared about.

Aragorn wipes his sword clean then turns to Legolas. "Legolas, get them up."

"Give them a moment, for pity's sake!" Boromir turned away from Gimli and looked at Aragorn.

"By nightfall, these hills will be swarming with Orcs! We must reach the woods of Lothlorien!" He reached down and picked Sam up. "On your feet, Sam." He looked around for Frodo and found him standing alone, grieving. "Frodo?" Frodo turned to Aragorn with a single tear rolling down his cheek.