Title: New Journeys 7?

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-Amaurëa/Legolas Buffy-Elenwë/Haldir plus book pairings

Summery: Getting to know your little sisters! And Dawn gets some training.

Notes: Please note that because this is set before the information about the slayer in season 7 Buffy's knowledge here is incomplete!

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

'' Thought.

Feedback: If you wish.

Reviews:

From: Allen Pitt

If you were really evil you'd have Spike cross over, looking for them. Elrond would have a heart attack... it would be nice at some point for the Scoobies to find out Buffy/Dawn are ok... I suppose a palantir would allow Buffy to 'see' Sunnydale, maybe contact Willow through it? Just a quick msg...

heh...and the elves haven't seen Buffy fight yet...

Answer: I can guarantee 100 that Spike or anyone else from Earth will crossover. As for contacting the Scoobies you will have to wait and see!

From: stcobb

Pretty interesting and well written. I would like to see Dawn given the grace in movement of the Elves. It would help her out. And my request is to not send Buffy or Dawn back. There is another Slayer and to send them back would mean the worst two seasons of BtVS has to happen. That doesn't work for me.Top of Form

Answer: Grace comes with time; she has to learn to walk before she can run! Buffy, and Dawn because she was created from her, are from Middle-earth, to send them back would be to condemn them to eternity alone as they will still be immortal. - From: Lorency I somehow keep on expecting that they will be pulled back from Middle-Earth which would be so sad now that they have found a home. Answer: All I'll say about this is season 6 of Buffy is still going on off screen!


Several days later Buffy and Dawn entered their father's study to find him waiting with their siblings as well as Gandalf and Glorfindel.

"You sent for us father," said Buffy taking the offered seat next to Arwen.

"Yes Elenwë," said Elrond seriously, "Mithrandir wishes to examine what happened with you and Amaurëa at the Council. And suggested that your family should be present."

"Of course," said Buffy looking at the wizard, "So what do you want to know?"

"Amaurëa said she was frightened that you would attack Boromir? And that she sensed the Ring was responsible! Before we get to that, can you give us any indication when you started feeling belligerent towards Boromir?" asked Gandalf.

"I don't think the slayer in me felt belligerent as such, it did want me to attack him though, it took all my willpower to restrain that part of me. What worries me about it is, on Earth there are supposedly safeguards against a slayer attacking or killing the Race of Men unless the slayer is attacked first. Had I not realised that something was wrong and restrained it, the slayer part of me would have easily killed Boromir."

"You speak of the slayer as if it is separate from you," said Gandalf.

"On some basic level it is, when I attacked vampires and demons back on Earth, unless more thought and planning were required, the slayer would take over; it is nothing more than a vicious animal that needs to kill. It is an unconscious agreement I think... But I know if it is not allowed to kill the things it wants it would eventually take over completely."

"What is the slayer?" asked Gandalf an intense look on his face.

"No one ever told me or any of the other slayers I met and I don't think Giles knew either; all I know is that whenever I have been involved with invoking the essence of the slayer it has always appeared as a very primitive girl..."

"Primitive?" queried Elrohir.

"Mmm I think the closest equivalent in Middle-Earth would be the Wildmen of Dunland. We always referred to her as the First Slayer, whether that was correct I do not know!" explained Buffy.

"Have you invoked it often?" asked Gandalf.

"Only twice, once last year when my friends and I used a spell it did not like and it tried taking vengeance on us and then about a month before returning here, when I appeared to be losing my focus and Giles suggested a ritual that could help me find it again, the First Slayer appeared as my guide on my quest."

"Very well," nodded Gandalf. "You say there are safeguards to prevent a slayer attacking anyone of the Race of Men! What are these safeguards?"

"Well prevent would not be the correct word, more like restrain, slayers can and has killed Men but the guilt of such acts cause the girl to act more and more rashly then at some critical time the primitive slayer will no longer come out to fight the slayer's opponent, effectively the girl commits suicide."

"And have you ever observed such a situation daughter?" asked Elrond.

They all saw the pain come into Buffy's eyes and Dawn grabbed her hand for support, Buffy nodded, "Yes, I and a slayer called Faith were out hunting vampires... they were coming from all directions. To keep them off balance if they appeared next to me I would push or swing them to Faith to stake and she would do the same for me... Then a man appeared out of nowhere, I had grabbed him and frown him to Faith before I realised my mistake. My warning to her came a moment to late and she plunged her stake in his heart.

"We were both very young and we ran, Faith later returned to hide the body... I tried talking to her but she would not listen, she had already started down the path to self-destruction. After a couple of days I thought the guilt would drive me insane and I confessed to my closest friend who suggested talking to Giles, which I did. When I arrived at the library Faith had got there before me and told him it was me that killed the man.

"Giles allowed Faith to leave and I thought my life was over but he had not been fooled by her story and we began talking about ways we could help her but her own Watcher overheard us and called in some people to capture her and return her for trial by the Watchers Council. She escaped and joined the other side... she poisoned a friend of mine, of which the only antidote was the blood of a slayer.

"I met her in combat, the only other person I knew who really knew what it was like to be a slayer. We fought and I plunged my knife into her but she fell off the balcony and so escaped."

"What happened to your friend?" asked Elladan quietly.

"If we were to save him I had no choice, I gave him my blood to cure him... He did not wish to do so but in his delirium I forced him and after he had recovered he took me to a hospital, a place of healing, and they saved my life," explained Buffy.

"Did you ever find out what had happened to Faith's body?" asked Arwen.

"She also survived but spent the next five months in a coma, a kind of very deep sleep, in the same hospital," replied Buffy. "While I was also there recovering we had what is called a slayer dream, a dream that gives a slayer clues about evil they must fight. In that dream Faith told me how to defeat the evil that was the mayor of Sunnydale. And..." she looked at Dawn, "that Amaurëa was coming to me."

Dawn looked intensely at Buffy, "You never told me that."

"No, I never got the chance to tell anyone that, it only just became clear just now," explained Buffy.

"Very well Elenwë. Can you tell us when you first started feeling belligerent towards Boromir," asked Gandalf.

Buffy smiled, "The way he looked at the Ring when Frodo showed it to everyone. I think the slayer's feelings may have somehow left me open to the influence of the Ring, because the slayer is supposed to protect and I sensed something in Boromir when he looked on the Ring... We all know it can corrupt the best of us so I hope that is not the way it is with Boromir!"

"Yes Elenwë let us hope that is the case," said Gandalf he turned his gaze on Dawn, "Now your actions were both brave and foolhardy. I understand your concern for the safety of your sister and the others, but had the Ring been able to touch your mind non among the Wise could have foreseen what would have become of you. Please do not do such a foolish thing again."

Dawn blushed nodding her head, "I won't," she then turned to Buffy a little smile coming to her face, "Are we sure he isn't related to Giles?" she said.

Buffy could not help laughing as some of the tension that had been building up in the room seemed to melt away.

Gandalf chuckled himself, "I am glad my speech amuses you my young Elf, no doubt this Giles is wise in the lore of his world as I am in this one. The Wise do not lecture without good reason and I suspect that by your continued reference to it you and Elenwë had much to be lectured on."

At this the rest of the room began to laugh as Buffy and Dawn just sat in their chairs blushing.

Gandalf allowed the laughter to die down before continuing, "Now Amaurëa, you told us at the Council that you could feel the Ring scream, as if in pain, could you sense anything else?"

"No, sorry, if there was other things to sense the scream blocked it out," said Dawn.

"Maybe the scream was not just a pain reaction but also to stop Amaurëa sensing other things?" added Buffy.

"Yes that may be correct; we may never know, the risk to Amaurëa would be too great," said Gandalf. "You must have been able to sense one other thing or you would not have known it would retaliate..."

"Why did it not retaliate anyway and why let Amaurëa know?" asked Buffy.

Gandalf looked at Buffy, "Yes another good point, let us examine that idea!"

"The Ring may have lied, it may not have been capable of retaliating," Elladan pointed out.

"True. It may also have been frightened of losing such a contest, evil rarely strikes unless it is sure to win!" said Gandalf.

"Should not Frodo be here as well? After all he maybe useful in telling us of the Ring's reaction!" said Buffy.

"Yes," agreed Elrond, "I will send for him immediately," he went to the door and stopped an Elf asking him to find the hobbit. He went over to the side table and pored everyone a goblet of wine; Dawn smirked as she took hers and Buffy did not try objecting.

Keeping it light Buffy and Dawn filled the time with little stories from their adventures in Sunnydale until there came a knock at the door, on opening it Elrond was not really surprised to see that Sam had accompanied Frodo, he smiled as he opened the door wide, "Come in the two of you," he said.

Frodo bowed gracefully to the three Elf maidens, Sam did the same but much more awkwardly; "You sent for me Lord Elrond?"

"Yes Frodo, we are attempting to find some answers to the incident between Elenwë and Boromir as well as your own reactions to Amaurëa touching the Ring," explained Elrond.

"I noted Frodo, your reactions to Amaurëa at first was anger but after she had place the Ring around your neck and kissed you on your forehead a look of peace came to you," noted Gandalf.

Frodo blushed lightly, "Yes Gandalf, even while I watched Elenwë and Boromir I had a sense that the Ring was calling to me to protect it..." he looked down at the floor before looking at Amaurëa, "I apologise my lady, but at that moment all that I could think was that I must kill you."

Dawn smiled sweetly at him, "That's alright Frodo, I'm sorry I caused you such distress."

"What were your thoughts after Amaurëa had returned the Ring to you?" asked Gandalf.

"A feeling of peace and calm, like nothing I have felt before, came over me," Frodo explained. "It was like the Ring was no longer a burden. And..." he blushed once more, "I felt the need to protect Amaurëa over everything else and that I would attempt the impossible such as assault the Black Gate by myself."

"The protection part may be a left over from Earth, part of the spell cast when Amaurëa came into being was meant to make me protect her above everything else," suggested Buffy, "The people that had dedicated their whole lives to protecting the Key had no knowledge of normal peoples lives. I would have done so anyway because she is my sister," she grabbed Dawn's hand before looking at Gandalf, "But now I think the protect the Key at all cost spell was not cast on me but on Amaurëa."

Gandalf looked at the two sat hand-in-hand, "That could well be Elenwë." He turned to Elrond, "My lord Elrond, as I have suggested before, the return of Elenwë and the appearance of Amaurëa are not just coincidences. I believe they are tied up with the fate of the Ring, and Middle-Earth as well," understanding came to his eyes, "I know how hard this decision will be but I think both Elenwë and Amaurëa should accompany the Ring when it goes to the Fire."

"Mithrandir, you must be jesting," interrupted Elrohir, "You cannot expect our father to allow such a thing, two maidens sent into such danger... And if he does Elladan and I will oppose him," he stated, Elladan nodded.

Buffy looked at Dawn, "It use to be so nice to know my big brothers would protect me from the big bad world," she smiled, "But now it is just irritating." She got up facing both Elladan and Elrohir, "I am a slayer, I know that does not mean much to you, but it will. Let us go outside and if I cannot best both of you with bow, sword and axe, both Amaurëa and I will remain here," she challenged.

"We would not wish to harm you," said Elrohir.

"Are you refusing Elenwë's challenge?" asked Gandalf.

A hardness entered both Elladan and Elrohir' faces, "Very well," said Elrohir, he bowed slightly to Buffy, "Whenever you are ready Elenwë."

A predatory smile appeared on Buffy's face, "Oh yes," she said and Dawn giggled.

They first went to collect some arms for Buffy, after checking over the various swords, daggers, throwing axes and bows she chose one of each then proceeded to the area normally used for sparring, as Elves usually did not bother with practice ranges etc.

As they approached the area where they planned to use their bows, Buffy turned to her brothers, "Let's cut to the chase, let us start at three hundred paces." Elladan looked at her his eyes narrowing but he nodded, he did wonder why Amaurëa was giggling so much!

"You first," said Buffy gesturing towards the far targets. Like most Elves both Elladan and Elrohir were good bowmen, if not in the class of an Elf of Lórien or Mirkwood, they both hit the bullseye dead centre. They smiled knowingly at each other aware that there was only one shot that would best it.

Buffy looked at the two arrows in the two bulls eyes and just shrugged her shoulders; she drew back the bowstring, took careful aim, and released the first arrow, even while it was flying towards its target she had taken aim with the second, it too flew straight and true. She did not even wait to see the second arrow hit its target, the look on both her brothers faces told her all she needed to know, "Your turn again."

Elladan and Elrohir both hit next to their first shots but did not manage to split Buffy's arrows as she had done to theirs, both brothers reluctantly conceded the victory to Buffy.

Next came the throwing axes; someone had collected the armour from a dead goblin and set it on a practice dummy; "One hundred paces?" suggested Buffy.

"What! Impossible," exclaimed Elrohir.

"Well I'll let you start at twenty five paces if you don't feel capable of one hundred," Buffy challenged.

"Very well, one hundred it is then," said Elrohir with a tightening of his jaw.

By this time they had come to the attention of several Dwarves that had been practicing in the area, they stopped to watch the proceedings.

This time Buffy went first planting her throwing axe square in the centre of the goblin dummy's head, all the Dwarves cheered, congratulating her on such a feat; both Elladan and Elrohir managed to hit the dummy but neither came close to striking its head, so once more had to concede to Buffy.

Just to make her point Buffy walked over to the Dwarves who looked in wonder at her, "Master Dwarf," she said to one of them, "Would you allow me the use of your wonderful axe," she said putting her most disarming smile behind it.

Without hesitation he handed her his favourite axe and watched as she walked back to her throwing position and swinging the axe several times to get the feel of it, suddenly sent it fling towards the dummy, it hit the head, cleaving it and the goblin helmet in two. Buffy walked over to retrieve the axe in the silence that followed her display; on returning to the Dwarves they had looks of awe on their faces, she handed the axe back to the Dwarf, "Nice axe Master Dwarf."

The Dwarf bowed, "It was an honour to allow one such as you to weld it, not even my father in his prime could have bested that throw," he said.

"What is you name Master Dwarf?" asked Buffy.

"Gimli son of Glóin, Lady Elenwë," replied the Dwarf bowing to her.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Gimli," said Buffy grasping his arm in the tradition warrior handshake, Gimli was momentarily surprised before he enthusiastically returned the shake.

Buffy smiled at her shocked brothers, Dawn was holding on to Arwen as she continued to laugh uncontrollably. "Shall we move on now?" Buffy asked Elladan and Elrohir.

They placed special covers over their swords for safety and dipped them in red dye to show any hits; "To give you a fair chance I'll fight both of you at once," she stated.

At this stage they were joined by many others, chief among them were Aragorn, Legolas and Boromir. Gimli and the other Dwarves had also followed.

Elladan and Elrohir took up defensive stances as they split up, slowly circling their sister who had not moved a muscle as she held her sword pointing at the ground. The twins always worked well together in combat and now was no exception, as one they attacked; to the onlookers it seemed the fight would be over before it had begun.

In the blink of an eye Buffy moved, she blocked Elladan downward stroke before stepping to the side then deflecting Elrohir stroke and flicking her sword up to mark the front of his throat, continuing the 360° turn, marking the back of Elladan neck as she finished. She stepped back from her stunned brothers, "Your both dead," she said solemnly.

There was mostly silence as she carefully removed the dye covered safety cover then returned to where Dawn stood clapping next to Arwen who wore a look of awe on her face, "You are full of wonder sister," said Arwen.

"Come, I feel like something to eat," said Buffy taking her older sister's arm, Dawn giggled until Buffy looked pointedly at her.

"What amuses our sister Elenwë?" asked Arwen as the three sisters walked away from the still silent audience.

"Something that I would only speak of to another maiden or my husband," explained Buffy quietly, Dawn just giggled some more.

Arwen ordered food to be readied in the family dining room while the three of them waited for the rest in the study. On their return to the room, Buffy announced to them that the rest of the meeting would be held in the dining room.

They all sat around the table eating their meal, Buffy sighed at the sullen looks on her brothers faces, "Look I was taught to use every weapon you could imagine, and probably some you can, by Oromë himself and I trained until I was his equal. Do you think if he entered here now and challenged you to combat you could best him?" she asked them.

"Of course not. But you are a maiden and our sister, it is not right," said Elrohir.

"I have not just been your sister for sometime now. I am a slayer who has five times your strength, can run faster, for longer and heal quicker. I had no choice and neither have you and Elladan."

"Elenwë is correct Elrohir," said Elrond, "I like it not but it appears to be the will of the Valar. But be that as it may, Amaurëa is no slayer I will not allow her to go unless it is shown that she at least can use a bow and is capable of defending herself."

"That goes without saying," agreed Gandalf, "May I suggest you draw on the large number of warriors from near and far that are presently in this house."

"Yes I will consider your counsel and choose those I think best my friend," agreed Elrond, Dawn just beamed at her father.

The next day a knock came on Dawn's door as she stood on her balcony listening to all the birds perched around her sing, Dawn smiled at them, "Thank you my friends fly away now, I'll see you all tomorrow." She turned and went to the door opening it she smiled at her visitor, "Prince Legolas, how may I help you?"

Legolas bowed, "Good morning lady Amaurëa. Your father requested my aid in teaching you the use of the bow," he explained.

"Oh so soon I thought he would take a couple of days to pick my instructors!"

"If my lady is not ready to begin I can return at some later date," said Legolas.

"No, no I'm ready," said Dawn moving into the hallway and closing the door, "Led on teacher," she laughed lightly.

They went to the armoury where Legolas picked out a half dozen bows he felt Dawn was capable of using, he then had her go through them testing their pull and general feel until she had chosen one, they then went to the same area as the day before.

"I will shot first, watch how I stand and aim my bow then you can try," said Legolas.

"Alright," said Dawn watching him stand with his legs apart and slowly pull back the bowstring, moments later she watched as the arrow hit dead centre of the target.

"Now you," Legolas said stepping aside for her; she stood as he had, "Move your feet a little more apart... that's better. Now don't worry too much about accuracy for now that will come with practice."

Dawn took aim, trying to keep her breathing steady, she released the bowstring, she watched as the arrow flew towards the target and stuck in the straw of its outer edge, "Well done my lady," congratulated Legolas.

"Thank you, but can we drop the lady, it is Amaurëa," said Dawn.

"As you wish Amaurëa, now let us see if we can improve on your last shot." Dawn nodded and took the correct stance once more.

By the end of that first day, Dawn had exceeded all expectations and was hitting whatever she wanted. The following day Legolas had some gardeners swinging some dummies on ropes between them and the target.

"Now this is to see if you can still hit the target without striking those in between, not an easy thing but sometimes necessary," explained Legolas.

Dawn took up her position and took careful aim and... hit the first dummy, by her sixth shot she had managed to hit the first dummy three times, and the second and third once each, the one that had succeeded in getting past the dummies missed the target completely; she sighed as she looked at her instructor, "I guess after yesterday I got a bit cocky."

"Cocky?" asked Legolas.

"Oh sorry, ah over confident of my skills with the bow," said Dawn with a pout.

"Yes I see, alright, I think you are approaching the problem from the wrong end, you are trying, I think, to work out when best to fire from the dummies movement! Do it the other way, aim at the target and ignore the dummies, but do not fire yet." Dawn did as he instructed, "Now extend your senses to include the dummy nearest your target;" she did so, "Now continue until you are sensing all three dummies movements... When you are ready release your arrow."

After a moment she released the arrow, which missed all three dummies but only, hit the outer circle of the target.

"Much better," praised Legolas, "But instead of trying to force the arrow around the dummies to hit the target, work the dummies around the arrow. Now try again."

Dawn was a little confused by what he was telling her but tried concentrating on the target, forcing herself to not move the aim of her arrow as she took each of the dummies into consideration. Her arrow hit the target in the bullseye.

And so her instruction in the art of Elven archery went on, by the end of a week she could hit any target, moving or not, within three hundred paces with a probability approaching hundred percent.

A week later she was surprised, and a little disappointed, to find Glorfindel at her door and not Legolas; "Yes Glorfindel my I help you?"

Glorfindel smiled down at her having caught the look of disappointment in her eyes. "Your father asked me to instruct you in the use of the Elven sword, I spoke to Legolas and he informs me that your instruction in the bow has proceeded so well you will only need to practice a little each day, your melee skills can precede at a pace."

They once more stopped by the armoury where Glorfindel picked out a sword and handed it to her, the sword was different from all those she had ever seen on Earth, it was extremely light with a single edge, which looked very sharp. It was obvious to Dawn that it was primary a slashing weapon, but what was strange about it was the handle, which was almost as long as the blade, ending in a lethal spike that curved towards the sharp edge.

Glorfindel spent the morning and early afternoon having Dawn mirror his movements, by which time Dawn was really thankful that the sword was so light; as Glorfindel noticed the approach of Legolas carrying two bows, he smiled as Dawn's face lit up. "I will start you off each morning by walking through the moves you have learned today then we will teach you how to defend yourself."

"Thank you Glorfindel," Dawn said handing him her sword. "Legolas, I'm glad to see you today."

"Amaurëa it is nice to see you as well," smiled Legolas, as an after thought he looked at Glorfindel, "How goes our pupil's lessons with you my lord."

Glorfindel smiled knowingly, "Very well, given enough time I have no doubt Amaurëa will become skilled with the sword. But alas that will have to wait until she returns from the South."

"Have you heard then my lord when the Ringbearer will depart?" asked Legolas.

"The scouts have begun to return, all will be ready within ten days," Glorfindel replied, "Amaurëa, Legolas, until tomorrow then," he said bowing slightly before leaving them.

The next eight days went quickly for Dawn; her sword skill would never match Glorfindel's own but he was more than pleased with her progress, but because of the shortness of time, he advised her to stay away from hand-to-hand if possible.

Dawn was surprised that Legolas had failed to show up for her archery practice, she saw Elwing hurrying towards her, "Amaurëa, Prince Legolas begs your forgiveness and your father requests your attendance in the Council chamber."

"Alright," smiled Dawn at her friend, she looped her arm with Elwing's, "Tell me did you by chance manage to secure the garments I asked you for and made all the necessary adjustments?"

"I've got the items but I will need you to try them on to be sure they fit!" smiled Elwing shaking her head, "It is scandalous Amaurëa, I know not what your father or Lady Arwen will say."

"What," giggled Dawn kicking the hem of her floor length dress up into the air, "You don't think I can go to war in a dress do you? They will get over it, and anyway Elenwë showed me how to get around father, as we said back on Earth I can twist daddy around my little finger."

On entering the Council chamber, Dawn saw many of those that had been at the last meeting, she went and sat next to Buffy who smiled at her, "Have a good lesson today?"

Dawn nodded, "Yeah," she whispered as their father rose to speak.

Elrond looked at Frodo, "If the Ring is to set out, it must go soon. But those who go with it must not count on their errand being aided by war or force. They must pass into the domain of the Enemy far from aid. Do you still hold to your word, Frodo, that you will take the Ring to the Fire?"

"I do, I will go with Sam," answered Frodo.

"Then I cannot help you much, not even with counsel," said Elrond gravely. "I can foresee very little of your road; or how your task is to be achieved. The Shadow has crept now to the feet of the Mountains; and under the Shadow all is dark to me. You will meet many foes, some open, and some disguised; and you may find friends upon your way. I have sent out messages, such as I can, to whom

I know in the wide world; but perilous are the lands under the Shadow that some may well come no quicker than you yourself.

"I have chosen your companions to go with you, as far as they will or fortune allows. The number must be small, since your hope is in speed and secrecy. For had I a host of Elves of the Elder Days, it would avail little but to arouse the power of Mordor.

"The Company of the Ring shall be Nine. With you and your faithful servant, Gandalf will go; for this shall be his great task, and maybe the end of his labours.

"For the rest, they shall represent the other Free Peoples of this World; Elves, Dwarves, and Men." Elrond paused for a moment to look at his two youngest children, sighing he turned back to Frodo, "Elenwë, Amaurëa and Legolas shall be for the Elves; and Gimli son of Glóin for the Dwarves. For Men you shall have Aragorn son of Arathorn, for the Ring of Isildur concerns him closely."

"Strider!" cried Frodo.

"Yes," smiled Aragorn, "I ask leave once more to be your companion Frodo."

"I would have begged you to come; only I thought you were going to Minas Tirith," said Frodo, he glanced at Buffy, "As was Lady Elenwë!"

"We are but your road and our road lie together for many hundreds of miles," explained Aragorn. "Therefore Boromir will also be in the Company. He is a valiant man."

"And so the Nine walkers are known, you will depart at dusk tomorrow," announced Elrond.

"But that leaves no place for us!" cried Pippin in dismay, standing with Merry; "We don't want to be left behind. We want to go with Frodo."

"That is because you do not understand and cannot imagine what lies ahead," said Elrond.

"Neither does Frodo," pointed out Gandalf, "Nor do any of us see clearly. It is true if these hobbits understood the danger, they would not dare to go."

"My friend Xander had no great power yet through everything he stayed with me," said Buffy smiling at his memory, "He was always the first to step forward with support... he saved me both physically and mentally more than once. I think, father that we could not ask for anything greater than friendship."

Elrond sighed, "Very well the Nine shall be Eleven."