Title: New Journeys 4?

Author: David A. Knapton

E-mail: If you want but it's polite to let the author know you are doing so.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the crossover idea. The characters belong to the owners of BtVS and Lord of the Rings.

Spoiler: End of season five of Buffy and other than including Buffy and Dawn LotR follows the book not the films.

Rating: 12A/PG-13

Pairing: Dawn-Amaurea/Legolas Buffy-Elenwë/Haldir plus book pairings

Summery: Explanations and conclusions

Notes: From this point on I should probably let you know that I will be mixing Buffy and Dawn's Quenya names with their BtVS names. But will try and keep it logical!

Thanks so much to Canada Bradshaw for stepping in and betaing this story.

'' Thought.

Feedback: If you wish.

-

Elrond and Gandalf both rose as the three sisters entered their father's study. Elrond gestured to the well-stuffed chairs, "Sit my daughters we have much to talk of," he said retaking his own seat when all three had taken theirs.

"But before we do that I wish to tell you Amaurea that although until this morning we had never met, I greet you and welcome you to our family," Elrond said.

Dawn blushed, "Thank you... father," she said addressing him the same way both her sisters seem to do. She leaned over slightly towards Buffy, "He sounds a lot like Giles!" she said in English.

Buffy laughed, as did Gandalf although he did not know this Giles, Elrond and Arwen just had bemused expressions.

"And what amuses you daughter?" asked Elrond.

"All Amaurea said is that your form of speech reminds her of the way my mentor, Giles, speaks," explained Buffy.

"I see," smiled Elrond as Dawn blushed. "So Elenwë will you start your tale?"

"Very well. As I told you earlier, mother and I were rescued by Oromë from the orcs that had waylaid our party as we crossed the Misty Mountains on our way home; he spoke with us at length. Telling us that I was to return with him for a great task that he said Ilúvatar had ordained would come to pass. He lifted me onto Nahar's back and we passed into the West." A sadness came into Buffy's eyes, "I have no idea why it was important that everyone was forbidden to know the truth but that was Oromë's command to mother. And as I said that was why she joined me in Valinor, I was allowed to dwell with her while my training took place and I awaited the time of my task to start.

"Oromë trained me in every weapon imaginable, until I matched him, then when it was done I stood before the Valar who bestowed gifts on me, gifts they said I would need to fulfil my destiny. I was given the strength of five Elves as well as faster speed, greater endurance and quicker healing. My Elven sight and hearing were already better than I would require so they remained."

Elrond rose to retrieve a pitcher of wine and five goblets from a side table and placed it on the table before them and began poring each a drink while he contemplated Elenwë's story, absently handing each a goblet, when he went to hand Dawn hers Buffy tried to stop him, "Father, she is to young," she told him.

Dawn scowled at Buffy. "A little will not hurt under the circumstances," Elrond said retaking his seat and smiling as his youngest daughter stuck her tongue out at her sister.

"You told Arwen and myself that protecting Amaurea was only part of your task! May we know the rest daughter," said Elrond.

"Of course, in the place I was sent, which the people call Earth, dwell many demons, worst among these are the vampires, not like those commanded by Melkor," Buffy added quickly as she saw the worry on everyone's face but Dawn's. "Vampires are not the strongest or wisest of the demons but like orcs are the most numerous and so this Earth has guardians called Slayers whose task it is to protect the innocent. The Valar placed me in the womb of my Earth mother to grow as one of them and when the time came, to be called as the Slayer.

"Over many centuries a group of individuals joined with the Slayers, at first as mentors and helpers, but as time passed they changed and they began taking more control over the Slayers, separating then from family and friends, the very people that they were supposed to protect. Part of my task was to help change the Watchers Council, as it is known, as I am now returned I assume I succeeded in this?"

"So this Giles you spoke of is one of these Watchers that helped keep the Slayers in servitude to them?" said Elrond a little angrily at the thought of his daughter under their control.

Buffy and Dawn both laughed lightly. "No father, among the Council's ranks were some very good men and women, they were usually also kept under the control of the others and sometimes severely punished if they did not follow the Council's rules. But Giles..." Buffy sighed at the realisation that she would never see him again, "Is one of the good men, he would have laid down his life for me or Amaurea, and supported me when I broke with the Council. I think he thought of Myself, Amaurea and my friends as his kin.

"I will not tell of my many battles at the moment as it would take far too long and I get the impression that time is pressing but will move to Amaurea's tale and my part in it. But I ask that you all remember that some of the memories I have may be false," Elrond nodded while Gandalf just had a curious look.

"Some four months ago, a creature by the name of Glorificus came to the city I protected seeking what it referred to as the Key, which I and my friends discovered had been transformed into flesh and sent to me to protect, Amaurea here..." began Buffy.

Over the next few hours Buffy and, to a lesser extent, Dawn explained what had happened up to their fall into the portal, Gandalf and Elrond questioning them closely on every part of it.

After they had finished the story Gandalf looked speculatively at the two Elves before him, "I think you may be in error Elenwë, I believe that Amaurea was intended to return with you, whether for ill or good I do not know? And I do not believe your own return at this time was by chance either," he said.

Buffy looked back and forth between her father and the wizard, "Why, what has come to pass here?" she asked worriedly.

A darkness seemed to descend on the room, "The One Ring has been found and evil once more dwells in Mordor," Elrond answered gravely.

A shiver went down Dawn's back; even though she did not understand why, "What's the One Ring," she asked looking at the faces of her family.

"We will not speak of such things at this time Amaurea," announced Elrond with a sad little smile, "I believe both you and Elenwë should attend the Council to be held tomorrow morn, where such things will be spoken of," he said before brightening. "But today will be a time of rejoicing, at the return of a daughter to this house and the discovery of another," he finished looking with love on Buffy and Dawn.

Buffy excused the three of them before heading back to her room with Arwen and Dawn in tow.

Buffy opened the door and beckoned her sisters in before closing it, "What's going on Buffy?" asked Dawn suspiciously.

Buffy looked at Dawn, smiling slightly, "Arwen and I are going to teach you to dance, father will want to dance with you at the celebrations and so will others," she explained.

"Buffy, I already know how to dance," Dawn said indignantly.

Buffy shook her head, "No you don't. You remember those films mum use to like with the knights in armour and the damsels?" Dawn nodded, Buffy smirked, "You're now living in one, the type of dancing here is very similar and I don't want you to get embarrassed when you are asked." She led Dawn and Arwen over to the open area near the window and sat Dawn down she stood side by side with Arwen, "Arwen and I will walk through our father's favourite dance then you can start practicing. I'll lead," she said to Arwen as they started the dance.

After several hours, Buffy and Arwen were satisfied that Dawn knew several dances well enough that she would not be to embarrassed.

Arwen looked at the waning sun, "We should start getting ready," she announced going to Buffy's closet and pulled two dresses out holding them up to her sisters, "I think the blue with the silver trip for you Elenwë and for Amaurea the plain silver one."

Dawn turned to Buffy, "Is she always like this?"

Buffy laughed, "Oh yes, at least with me... and now you I guess. For six hundred years she mothered me, picking my clothes for me, helping to dress me until I finally put my foot down and she started to ease up... Well okay it still took another hundred years for her to finally stop!"

A little hurt came to Arwen's eyes, Buffy saw it and went to her older sister pulling her into a hug, "In some ways I miss it my sister, but I am all grown-up now," a look of pain crossed Buffy's face, "I have faced horrors no one should have too, I know how to look after myself." Pulling away from Arwen a look of mischief coming to her eyes, "But as I have said on many occasions you do have a great eye for what to wear. And we now both have a little sister to mother."

Dawn sighed as she saw Arwen's eyes light up, "I suppose I could use some help... for a little while."

It was like Arwen and Buffy had become a couple of deranged mother hen type monsters, their hands seemed to be everywhere, unbuttoning this, tying that, changing this until Dawn's head felt like it was spinning.

They finally allowed her to see herself in the full-length mirror, for several moments she lost the power of speech; the reflection looking back at her was beyond beautiful.

Arwen and Buffy stood just behind her smiling at her reaction, "You will have every eligible bachelor panting for you and asking for your hand in marriage... if they have the nerve to ask father," laughed Buffy.

"And willing to fight both Elladan and Elrohir as well as all the other suitors," added Arwen.

"Who are Elladan and Elrohir?" asked Dawn absently still admiring her reflection, "You mentioned them before."

"They are our twin older brothers. By the way Arwen have you any idea where they are and when they are expected back?" said Buffy.

A look of sadness crossed Arwen's face, "Since your supposed death and mother sailing into the West they spend more and more time away from Rivendell hunting orcs and riding with the Rangers. Their relationship with father has been strained of late, they have indicated their intention to remain in Middle-Earth when he sails West," she explained. "I know not when they will return."

-

Arwen and Buffy led the slightly nervous Dawn into the Great hall, silence reigned as the three appeared and began their walk down the path that opened before them as Elves and the few guests from other races moved away so as to allow their approach to the high table at the other end where Elrond had risen with the other Elf Lords and their chief guests.

Dawn was a little intimidated herself at her older sisters, who held themselves like queens as they walked either side of her, she was trying her best to emulate them but felt more like some type of bumbling serving girl.

Elrond greeted his daughters warmly as he led them to the table and the three-canopied chairs, before Buffy and Dawn were seated, he turned to his guests. Placing a hand on Buffy's shoulder, he smiled around the room, "My friends this is my daughter Elenwë, thought lost to us at the hands of orcs but by the will of the Valar returned safely to this house."

He allowed her to sit and moved to Dawn who had begun to blush lightly, standing behind her and lightly squeezing both her shoulders, "And this my friends is my youngest daughter, Amaurea," a gasp went up from the many Elves of the house. "Although she was a stranger to me until today, it was with the aid of the Valar that Elenwë was able to bring her here. Now friends rejoice with me in welcoming both of them into our home," Dawn then sat still blushing slightly at all the curious eyes.

After everything had started to settle down Dawn took the opportunity to look around at those sat near her, Buffy and just beyond her Arwen were seated to her right and on her left was a very tall Elf lord with hair that looked like liquid gold. He smiled at her, "I must apologise for frightening you earlier my lady," he told her.

A moment of confusion crossed Dawn's face until she remembered that he had been the one that had been in her room when she woke that morning, she blushed deeply with embarrassment, "Sorry about that, I had no idea who you were, where I was or where Buffy was," she explained.

"Buffy?" asked the Elf.

"Oh sorry, I mean Elenwë, until we came here I only knew her as Buffy," explained Dawn, then using the memories from all those medieval movies her mum liked so much she smiled at him, "May I know your name my lord!" she asked.

The elf stood and turning slightly bowed to her, "My apologises my lady, my name is Glorfindel." Retaking his seat he smiled at her, "You were very brave this morning, although you had no knowledge of this place or any dangers it may have held you defended yourself to the best of your abilities my lady."

"Thank you but could you drop the 'my lady' and just call me Dawn or if you prefer Amaurea," said Dawn smiling sweetly.

"Dawn?" asked Glorfindel, "What does this word mean?"

"Dawn is my name in the land of my birth and just means the same as Amaurea," she explained.

"I see," laughed Glorfindel lightly, "The name suits you, for you are as the first light of the sun as it rises over the land," Glorfindel announced.

Dawn smiled sweetly at him, "My lord embarrasses me," she said beginning to get the hang of the formal way of speaking.

Dawn heard Buffy laugh to her right, Dawn turned as Buffy leaned over to her, "Bet you never thought all those movie nights with mum would come in handy," she said in English.

"What language do you speak Elenwë?" asked Glorfindel looking past Dawn.

"It is called English Glorfindel; it is much like the common tongue of Middle-Earth where we lived before our return," explained Buffy.

"I see," Glorfindel nodded to Buffy before turning his attention back to Dawn, "I would love to hear any tales you know from this other place Amaurea," he said. Dawn began to relax as she talked about her previous home, many things confused the Elf lord but he only asked a few questions.

After the meal, came the dancing, Elrond approach Dawn where she stood talking to many of the younger Elf maidens, he smiled at her, "Elenwë tells me that she and Arwen have taught you some dances Amaurea. Will you do me the great pleasure of dancing with me?" he asked holding out his hand.

"As you wish father," she said somewhat shyly as she took his hand and allowed herself to be led to the open space in the middle of the hall, where they were joined by others including Arwen who stood next to a dark haired man she had noticed at the high table stealing glances at Arwen. 'Hmm so that's him... Not bad.'

Dawn was really beginning to enjoy herself, as Buffy had predicted many of the male Elves wanted to know her, although more than a few were intimidated by Elrond and Buffy as one or both always seemed to be watching them when they approached her to talk or ask her to dance with them!

Presently Arwen joined her with another Elf by her side as Dawn stood near some others who had begun to sing very beautiful songs that seemed too somehow enchant her as she found herself reliving happier times back in Sunnydale. Arwen touched her arm gently Dawn turned and smiled at her sister, "Sorry I must have zoned out there."

"Zoned out?" queried Arwen.

"Oh sorry, I mean I was thinking about some happy times back in Sunnydale," Dawn explained.

"I understand I would not have disturbed your dreams but Prince Legolas asks that I introduce you." Arwen turned to the Elf standing just behind her, "Legolas may I introduce my youngest sister Amaurea. Amaurea this is Prince Legolas son of King Thranduil of Mirkwood," she said stepping to one side.

Legolas bowed graciously, "Lady Amaurea I have been in awe of your beauty since setting eyes upon your face, had I not known better I would have believed Lúthien Tinúviel had entered the room."

"Who?" asked Dawn.

Arwen turned to a confused Legolas, "Amaurea knows very little of our history, the place she was born has no knowledge of our people," she explained to him before turning back to Dawn, "Lúthien Tinúviel was one of our ancestors Amaurea, she was said to be the most beautiful elf to ever live."

Dawn blushed at Legolas' complement as Buffy joined them, "So you have finally met your frog prince," she said in English as she smiled at Dawn and Legolas.

A look of horror crossed Dawn's face until she realised that there was no way the Elf prince could know what Buffy had said, "That was so mean," said Dawn kicking Buffy on the shin.

"Ow," cried Buffy as she scowled at her sister.

"Elenwë what did you say?" asked Arwen curious at Dawn's reaction.

"If you must know, I pointed out that Amaurea had just met her frog prince," Buffy explained then seeing Legolas' reaction she began to babble, "I did not mean you are a frog because someone like you could never be described as a frog... I mean an orc could be described as a frog but then that would be an insult to frogs. It was Arwen's fault she pointed out that you could have been Dawn's... I mean Amaurea's prince that had to be changed into a frog..." She finally gave up with a sigh she looked back at Dawn, "Can you get me a spade so I can dig myself out of the hole I find myself in?"

Dawn laughed so loud most of the conversations going on around the hall ceased and she blushed slightly as all eyes turned to them, "Is there somewhere quiet I can tell you and Prince Legolas the story of the frog prince?" she asked Arwen.

"Let us go out onto the terraces'," nodded Arwen leading them out side, where they strolled as Dawn told Arwen and Legolas the story.

"...And the moral of the story is that a girl has to kiss a lot of frogs before she finds her Prince," finished Dawn as she, Arwen and Legolas rounded a corner and came upon Buffy sat laughing along with the smallest 'men' Dawn had ever seen.

Legolas smiled at the end, "Then Amaurea it is an honour to be your frog prince," he said as they all joined Buffy and the little 'men'. He looked at Buffy, "Your sister has explained the meaning of your declaration earlier so Mirkwood will not declare war on Rivendell," he laughed.

Buffy rose and curtsied, "I thank you my lord for your gracious acceptance of my apology," she said before laughing, "I am sorry I did not mean it as it came out... I have been to long away from our people; those kind of slips will take me a while to change."

"I will remember that in our future conversations," said Legolas lightly.

"So who are your friends Elenwë?" asked Dawn still looking at the little 'men'.

"Oh I'm sorry Amaurea, this is Merry and Pippin they are Hobbits from The Shire. Merry, Pippin, this is my sister Amaurea and prince Legolas of Mirkwood," Buffy introduced them.

Both Hobbits rose and bowed to Dawn, "I hope you are now better, our friends Frodo and Sam said you were injured when you arrive," said Merry.

"Yes thank you," smiled Dawn sitting beside Buffy, "So what was so funny?"

"We were just telling Elenwë about our friends Frodo and Bilbo's birthday party and what happened when we accidentally set off Gandalf's fireworks," began Pippin.

Sometime later, when the two Hobbits began to yawn, Legolas offered to see they got back to their rooms leaving the three sisters alone. "I don't get it!" mused Dawn, "Other times when I had the amount of wine I had tonight I've fallen asleep... Ops," she gulped as she realised she had spoken aloud when she saw Buffy's eyes narrow as they walked under the clear starry night sky.

"When have you had wine Dawn?" asked Buffy angrily.

"Ah, ah at Janice's house when I went on sleepovers. Ah Janice would sometimes get some from her dad's wine cellar... Well wine cellar isn't the right word, it's only a small shelf in their basement, I mean look at all those vineyards back in California they are huge and..."

"Dawn," interrupted Buffy a warning edge coming to her voice, "How many times?"

"Twice," whispered Dawn, "I only had it twice. I know it was wrong... But hey teenager here," she said laughing a little. Then her face changed as she remembered something she had once heard Xander and Willow talking about. "But before you start trying to ground me or something just remember college and one million BC Buffy."

Buffy paled, "How did you know about that?"

"I heard Willow and Xander talking about it," smirked Dawn realising she had her sister.

Buffy laughed, "Alright but if we ever go back you are grounded for a month and I tell Janice's parents about her little problem."

"Okay I can live with that," said Dawn joining in the joke that both of them knew, that they could never go back.

All this time Arwen had been trying to follow the conversation but both Buffy and Dawn had been mixing English words in with Quenya, which was very confusing, "If I am to be able to have any meaningful conversation with the two of you I will need to learn this English you continue to use."

Buffy smiled at Arwen, "I would be more than happy to teach it to you, so would Dawn," who nodded her agreement.

"So can one of you please tell me why I don't feel sleepy?" Dawn asked again.

"Because Elves do not sleep as Men do, we have the ability to sort of shutdown our mind while still being aware of our surroundings, it also gives us the ability to walk in our dreams as if we were there," explained Buffy.

"Is that why I have zoned out a few times?" queried Dawn.

"Yes probably," nodded Buffy, "You will get use to it, and if you really wish too, you can still sleep like Men but at most you'll sleep for a couple of hours."

Dawn realised that they were about to pass her door, "Well in that case I think I'll stay here for awhile and dream of mum. Goodnight," she said giving her sisters a kiss on their cheeks before opening her door.