Title: New Journeys 8?

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: The journey south.

Notes: More from the book but changed and cut in places to make sense of Buffy and Dawn's presents as well as make it a more manageable size.

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

'' Thought.

Feedback: If you wish.

Sorry I did not keep my word in regards to posting each Thursday but other things got in the way then (hangs head in shame) I forgot! Anyway I lost my beta this week and am waiting to hear back from someone about them taking over so there may not be a part next week!


Both Buffy and Dawn had gathered the items they needed from the armoury, Elwing helped Dawn strap her sword and the full quiver next to it over her right shoulder, she also had a long knife by her left hip and her bedroll cross her left shoulder. She had decided to carry her bow.

Dawn left her room with Elwing, as they were about to pass Buffy's room the door opened and the slayer stepped out, both sisters stopped starring at each other for a moment before they burst out in peels of laughter, both were wearing identical outfits, even down to the colour.

"Dad is going to have a fit," said Dawn in English.

"Na, he'll be okay, it is Arwen that will have a fit," laughed Buffy.

As they were about to turn a corner Buffy stopped them and dodged back around the corner out of sight of the two people stood on the terrace; Buffy peeked around the corner, Dawn ducked under her sister's head and joined her to see what was so interesting.

At the far end stood Arwen and Aragorn, "May the Valar watch over you," they heard Arwen say, she reached behind her neck she then reached behind Aragorn's neck to fasten a chain she held, "So you will not forget your Evenstar."

Aragorn fingered the jewel, "I could never forget you my love. If all goes well I will send for you."

Buffy and Dawn could not help giggling quietly, but they held it in when they saw Arwen's eyes flash momentarily, "You should leave now to join the others, you are always in my thoughts and dreams my lord." Aragorn just nodded and walked away.

Arwen waited until she was sure Aragorn had gone before she turned to where she knew her sisters hid, "Elenwë, Amaurëa come out," she ordered. Buffy and Dawn, trailed by their maids, came from their hiding places. Arwen looked at what they were wearing, "What are these garments you wear my sisters? They are most unseemly."

"Arwen, what did you think? We would wear gowns?" laughed Buffy, "We will be far from home, gowns would impede our movements and I'm sure at times we will need to run," she pointed out many of the reasons they had to be dressed in a jerkin and leggings.

Arwen seemed to consider the things Buffy had said, she nodded her agreement, "Very well, you may wear them," she said, making both of her sisters' smile; as female head of the family Arwen, at least technically, had the authority to forbid them to leave the house if she disapproved of the things they wore. "Come, everyone awaits," she said turning and walking the way Aragorn had gone.

There were a few raised eyebrows when those gathered near the gates saw what Buffy and Dawn wore, Elrond excepted an embrace from both Buffy and Dawn who went on to hug their two brothers and finally Arwen, "We will watch over Aragorn as well, my sister," whispered Buffy in Arwen's ear.

"I know Elenwë, watch over Amaurëa for both of us and do not forget yourself," Arwen whispered back.

"Always Arwen," smiled Buffy pulling away. She went over to where her backpack waited her, she slung it over her shoulders and fixed the straps, she carried enough food for both her and Dawn to last the month or so it would take them to reach Lórien.

Their goodbyes said they joined the others as Gandalf led them through the gate and into the wild, it suddenly struck Dawn that this was the first time she had left her new home and she had no idea how to get anywhere in this World!

The plan was to move at night for several weeks and hid when it began to grow light.

It was while Dawn lay in her bedroll dreamwalking that she realised the three days they had been on the road was the longest period she had spent laying down since she had been here. She smiled as she walked into the living room in Sunnydale where her mother and sister sat curled up, she sat and squeezed in between them and they wrapped her in their arms.

They had been two weeks on the march south when the weather changed, it had been cloudy and a bitter easterly wind bit into all but the three Elves, who did not feel the cold as mortals did. The wind veered around to the south and the clouds melted away and the sun came out.

Dawn looked around they had reached a low ridge crowned with ancient holly trees, their berries glowed red in the light of the rising sun. To the south, the lofty mountains seemed now to stand across the path that the Company was taking. To the left of this high range rose three peaks; the tallest and nearest stood up like a tooth tipped with snow; its great bare northern side was largely in shadow, but where the sunlight shone upon it, it glowed red.

Gandalf walked over to join Dawn, "Here is the borders of the country that Men call Hollin; many Elves lived here in happier days, when Eregion was its name. The land and the weather will be milder now."

"Yes I noticed that the hobbits especially have found it hard," observed Dawn.

Pippin joined them, "But the mountains are ahead of us, we must have turned eastwards in the night."

"No. But you see further ahead in the clear light. Beyond those peaks the range bends round south-west. There are many maps in Elrond's house, but I suppose you never thought to look at them," said Gandalf, Dawn giggled.

"Yes I did, sometimes," retorted Pippin, "But I don't remember them. Frodo has a better head for that sort of thing."

"I need no map," declared Gimli, who had come up with Buffy and Legolas, and was gazing out before him with a strange light in his deep eyes. "There is the land where our fathers worked of old, and we have wrought the image of those mountains into many works of metal and stone, and into many songs and tales. They stand tall in our dreams. Baraz, Zirak, Shathûr.

"Only once before have I seen them from afar in waking life, but I know them and their names, for under them lies Khazad-Dûm, the Dwarrowdelf, that is now called the Black Pit, Moria in the Elvish tongue. There the Misty Mountains divide, and between the arms of Zirakzigil and Bundushathûr lies the deep-shadowed valley which we cannot forget, Azanulbizar, the Dimrill Dale, which the Elves call Nanduhirion."

"It is for Dimrill Dale that we are making," Gandalf told them, "If we climb the pass that is called the Redhorn Gate, under the far side of Caradhras, we shall come down by the Dimrill Stair into the deep vale of the Dwarves. There lies the Mirrormere, and there the River Silverlode rises in its icy springs."

"Dark is the water of Kheled-zâram," Gimli said, his eyes twinkling, "My heart trembles at the thought that I may see it soon."

"May you have joy of the sight, my good dwarf," said Gandalf. "But whatever you may do, we at least cannot stay in that valley. We must go down the Silverlode into Lórien." He looked around, "I think we will rest here, not only today but tonight as well. There is a wholesome air about Hollin. Much evil must befall a country before it wholly forgets the Elves, if once they dwelt there."

"That is true," said Legolas. "But the Elves of this land were of a race strange to us of the sylvan folk."

"But not to me," added Buffy, "Many dwelt here that were kin to Amaurëa and I, though they sought the Havens long ere I was born."

They set up camp in a deep hollow surrounded by the holly bushes and lit a fire well protected from any unfriendly eyes. Their meal was merrier than it had been since they set out, with some persuasion Dawn sang for them.

At the conclusion of the song Dawn looked around frowning, "What's wrong?" asked Buffy also looking for whatever had her sister confused.

"That is the first time my singing has not attracted birds to sing when I finished! But I have not heard any bird since yesterday," explained Dawn.

At this Aragorn rose and walked to the edge of the bushes looking all around, "What are you looking for Strider?" asked Merry.

"I have been in the country of Hollin in many seasons. No folk dwell here now, but many other creatures live here at all times, especially birds. Yet now all things but we are silent. I feel it. There is no sound for miles about us, and our voices seem to make the ground echo. I do not understand it," said Aragorn.

"But what do you guess is the reason?" asked Gandalf.

"I am unsure, but I have a sense of watchfulness, and of fear, that I have never had here before," answered Aragorn.

"Then we will be careful," said Gandalf. "I had hoped to continue our journey in daylight but I think we must go on under cover of night for a little longer."

"Yes and also stop talking aloud and set a watch," said Aragorn quietly.

As all but Sam, and Aragorn who joined him, settled down to rest the hobbit pointed to the south, "What's that, Strider? It don't look like a cloud," he whispered.

Dawn's curiosity got the better of her and she joined them, her Elven eyesight easily answering the hobbit's question, "It is not a cloud but hundreds of birds," she frowned as she watched them, "They seem to be looking for something?"

Aragorn looked worried, "Quickly Sam, the fire," he said, "They are Crebain out of Dunland and Fangorn, they spy for Saruman," he said moving back to the camp.

Dawn joined Aragorn in warning the rest who quickly moved to hid under the holly bushes. A few minutes later the large flock of birds flew low overhead, such a size was the flock that it took several minutes before all had passed over them.

They remained under the bushes until the flock was far to the north. Crawling out they looked around, Dawn looked unhappy, "They are evil," she said looking at the fast moving birds.

"Yes Amaurëa," said Gandalf sadly, "They were corrupted by Sauron long years ago. They were breed and tortured from Crows as goblins were tortured from Elves by Melkor." He looked around, "Let us get some rest while we can, I think we should now not dally here after all," he said returning to his bedroll.

"Get some rest Sam," said Aragorn, "I will take the watch."

"Alright Strider," nodded Sam.

They set out again just as the sun was setting, several times during the day the Crebain had flown overhead, continuing their search, each time sending the Company diving for cover.

Dawn smiled up at the clear starry sky, she had begun to love walking in the twilight that was night for all Elves, having Elven vision had been a wonder to her, the distance and detail had, at first, been overwhelming but as the time had passed, she had gotten use to it.

They set up camp as it grew light the next morning; the mountains to the south were much closer. They spread the two tents they had brought from Rivendell across a small ravine and thrown earth and rock dust over the top to camouflage them, it would not fool someone close but Aragorn assured them that the Crebain would be.

Several times that day the flock did fly overhead, Gandalf looked out after they flew over the second time, "I think we need to leave a little earlier tonight if we are to reach the pass of Caradhras," he said.

In the late afternoon, it began to rain lightly, Aragorn pointed out that the Crebain would be unlikely to fly far in such weather so they broke camp and hurried on their way. It was much easier on the hobbits as they could at least see where they walked, so by the time it had grown dark they had travelled about a third of the distance to the pass.

By morning, they were only a few leagues short of their target but a little before dawn the rain had turned to snow, they pressed on, stopping for the day in a small copse of pine trees, giving them some shelter and with a little hunting, dry wood for a fire.

Buffy watched as Gandalf followed close behind Aragorn as the Ranger moved to the edge of the trees, her Elven ears easily picking up their conversation.

"Winter deepens behind us. The heights away north are whiter than they were; snow is lying far down their shoulders," said Gandalf. "Tonight we shall be on our way high up towards the Redhorn Gate. We may well be seen by watchers on that narrow path, and waylaid by some evil; but the weather may prove a more deadly enemy than any. What do you think of your course now, Aragorn?"

'So this is Aragorn's choice of paths?' thought Buffy.

"I think no good of our course from beginning to end, as you know well," answered Aragorn sadly. "And peril known and unknown will grow as we go on. But we must go on; and it is no good our delaying the passage of the mountains."

"There is the other way, the dark and secret way that we have spoken of," said Gandalf quietly.

"But let us not speak of it again! Not yet. Say nothing to the others, I beg, not until it is plain that there is no other way," said Aragorn just as quietly.

Buffy frowned looking around she realised that no one else had heard, Dawn was away on the other side of the camp flirting with Legolas, 'Need to keep an eye on that,' she mused.

It was late afternoon when Gandalf called the Company together. "From signs that we have seen lately, I fear that the Redhorn Gate may be watched; and I have doubts of the weather that is coming up behind, the snow will only get worse. We must go with all the speed that we can, even so it will take us more than two marches before we reach the top of the pass. We must leave as soon as you can get ready."

"I will add a word of advice, if I may," added Boromir. "I was born under the shadow of the White Mountains and know something of journeys in high places. We shall meet bitter cold, if no worse. It will not help us to keep so secret that we are frozen to death. When we leave here, where there are a few trees and bushes, each of us should carry a faggot of wood, as large as he, or she, can bear."

Buffy and Dawn giggled, they blushed as the others looked at the curiously, "Sorry, it is just that faggot is not a nice word where we lived before coming back here," explained Dawn.

"My pack has become light since leaving Rivendell, I can carry quite a lot myself," said Buffy.

"Very well. But we must not use the wood, not unless it is a choice between fire and death," said Gandalf.

After gathering as much wood as possible they started out making good time at first but the pass became steep and more difficult the further they went. The twisting and climbing road had in many places almost disappeared or was blocked with many fallen stones. The snow from that morning came back with a vengeance, they went on but before long the snow was falling fast.

Gandalf halted, the snow already ankle-deep, "This is what I feared," he said. "What do you say now Aragorn?"

"That I feared it too," answered Aragorn grimly, "But less than other things. I knew the risk of snow, though it seldom falls heavily so far south, save high up in the mountains and we are not that high yet. This part of the pass is usually open all winter."

"I wonder if this is a contrivance of the Enemy," asked Boromir.

"His arm has grown long indeed," said Gimli, "If he can draw snow down from the North to trouble us three hundred leagues away."

"His arm has grown long," stated Gandalf.

While they had stopped, the wind had died down and the snow had almost ceased. They started forward once more but had gone no more than a hundred yards before the storm returned with a fury. The snow became a blinding blizzard, soon even Boromir found it hard to keep going. It was plain that the hobbits could not go much further.

The Company halted suddenly, as if they had come to an agreement without any words being spoken. Stones began to fall from the mountain-side, whistling over their heads, or crashing on the path beside them. The wind sounded in the cracks and gullies of the rock wall, but the sounds were of shrill cries and wild howls of laughter.

"We cannot go further tonight," cried Boromir. "Let those call it the wind who will; there are fell voices on the air; and these stones are aimed at us."

"I do call it the wind," replied Aragorn, "But that does not make what you say untrue. There are many unfriendly things in the world that have little love for those that go on two legs and yet are not in league with Sauron."

"Caradhras was called the Cruel," added Gimli, "Long years ago, when rumour of Sauron had not been heard in these lands."

"It matters little who is the enemy. Either we stop here or go back," said Gandalf. "It is no good going on. Only a little higher this path leaves the cliff and runs into a wide shallow trough at the bottom of a long hard slope. We should have no shelter there from snow, or stones... or anything else."

"And it is no good going back, we have passed no place on the way up that offers more shelter than this cliff-wall," said Aragorn.

"Shelter!" cried Sam, "If this is shelter, then one wall and no roof make a house."

The Company gathered close to the cliff and the fact that it faced south protected them somewhat from the northerly wind. The hobbits huddled together, Bill the pony stood patiently in front of them, screening them a little; but before long the drifting snow was above his hocks, and it went on mounting.

"This will be the death of the Halflings Gandalf," said Boromir. "It is useless to sit here until the snow goes over our heads. We must do something to save ourselves."

"Give them this," said Gandalf handing him a leathern flask. "Just a mouthful each. It is miruvor, the cordial of Imladris. Elrond gave it to me at our parting. Pass it around."

When Frodo went to hand it to Buffy she smiled, "Although miruvor is very nice, Amaurëa, Legolas and I do not require such things, it would be best to save it for those that do need it."

Although the miruvor did its work, reviving their strength and the heavy drowsiness left them, it could not stop the snow.

"What do you say to fire!" asked Boromir. "The choice seems near now between fire and death Gandalf. Doubtless we shall be hidden from unfriendly eyes when the snow covers us."

"You may light a fire, if you can," replied Gandalf. "If there are any watchers that can endure this storm, they can see us, fire or no."

But although they had brought wood and kindling, it passed the skill of Elf, Man or Dwarf to strike a flame, "We should have brought a lighter from Earth," sighed Buffy to Dawn as she rose from her efforts.

Finally Gandalf sighed, he held his staff above his head, "Naur an edraith amen," he cried before thrusting it into the stack of wood, which it caused to burst into flames. "If there are any to see, then I at least am revealed to them. From Rivendell to the mouths of Anduin, for those that can read it, I have written Gandalf is here."

Their hearts were rejoiced to see the light of the fire, even the Elves. The wood burned merrily; though all round it the snow hissed and pools of slush crept under their feet.

But the wood was burning fast and as the last of it was thrown on Aragorn looked to the east, "The night is growing old. The dawn is not far off," he said.

As the light grew, the Company could see the snow was becoming less and the wind had dropped to a gentle breeze. They looked upon a silent shrouded world. Below their refuge were white humps and domes beneath which the path that they trodden was altogether lost; but the heights above were hidden in great clouds still heavy with the threat of snow.

Gimli shook his head sadly, "Caradhras has not forgiven us. He has more snow yet to fling at us, if we go on. The sooner we go back the better," he said.

They all agreed. But only a few paces from the ashes of their fire the snow lay many feet deep, higher than the heads of the hobbits.

"If Gandalf would go before us with a bright flame, he might melt a path for you," said Legolas causing Dawn to giggle.

"If Elves could fly over mountains, they might fetch the Sun to save us," snapped Gandalf. "But I must have something to work on, I cannot burn snow."

"Well," said Boromir, "When heads are at a loss bodies must serve. See! Though all is now snow-clad, our path, as we came up, turned about that shoulder of rock down yonder," he pointed down the way they had come. "It was there that the snow first began to burden us. If we could reach that point, maybe it would prove easier beyond. It is no more than a furlong off I guess."

"Then let us force a path thither, you and I!" agreed Aragorn.

Legolas watched them for a while as he stood next to Dawn. The Men were toiling slowly forward and in places the snow was breast-high and at times it looked as if they were swimming. A smile came to Legolas' face, "The strongest must seek a way, say you? But I say; let a ploughman plough, but choose an otter for swimming and for running light over grass and leaf, or over snow... an Elf." He held out his hand to Dawn, "Come Amaurëa let us find the Sun!" she laughed merrily as she allowed him to draw her onto the top of the snow and they danced past the two toiling Men.

'I must speak to our prince soon!' sighed Buffy as she watched them go.

The others waited huddled together, watching until the two Men dwindled into black specks in the whiteness. An hour or so went by, the clouds lowered and a few flakes came curling down.

They saw Legolas and Dawn coming back. At the same time, Boromir and Aragorn reappeared round the bend labouring up the slope.

"Well," smiled Legolas as he ran up with Dawn and gently aided her from the snow; "We have not brought the Sun. She is walking in the blue fields of the South. But we have brought back a gleam of good hope for those who are doomed to go on feet." Dawn giggled; "There is the greatest wind-drift of all just beyond the turn, and there our Strong Men were almost buried.

"They despaired until Amaurëa and I returned to tell them that the drift was little wider than a wall, while further down it is no more than a white coverlet to cool a hobbit's toes."

"It is as I said," growled Gimli. "It was no ordinary storm. It is the ill will of Caradhras. He does not love Elves and Dwarves, and that drift was laid to cut off our escape."

"But happily your Caradhras has forgotten that you have Men with you," said Boromir as he and Aragorn joined them. "And doughty Men too, though lesser men with spades might have served you better. Still, we have thrust a lane through the drift; and for that all here may be grateful who cannot run as light as Elves," he said smiling at the Company's three Elves.

"But how are we to get down there, even if you have cut through the drift?" asked Pippin, voicing the thought of all the hobbits.

"I am weary, but I still have some strength left, and Aragorn too," said Boromir, "We will bear you little folk. Come Master Peregrin! I will begin with you." He lifted up the hobbit, "Cling to my back! I shall need my arms." Aragorn took hold of Merry and followed.

On the far side Merry and Pippin were set down, there they waited with Legolas and Dawn for the rest of the Company to arrive. After a while Boromir returned carrying Sam. Behind came Gandalf guiding Bill with Gimli perched among the baggage, last was Aragorn carrying Frodo and Buffy walking lightly on the snow to the side.

The morning was almost over as they started retracing the path they had taken the day and night before. Frodo's legs ached and he was chilled to the bone by the time they reached their old campsite and the sun was going down. He looked up to see dark dots circling.

"The birds again!" said Aragorn.

"That cannot be helped now," said Gandalf. "Whether they are good or evil, or have nothing to do with us at all, they will have seen us coming down the pass."

As they gathered together, Gandalf once more handed around the flask of miruvor but this time Buffy accepted some as did Dawn when her sister nodded that she should take a sip.

"We cannot go on again tonight," said Gandalf, "We must rest here for a while."

"And then where are we to go?" asked Frodo.

"We still have our journey and our errand before us," answered Gandalf. "We have but two choices, to go on or to return to Rivendell."

"I wish I was back there," Frodo said, Dawn's heart went out to him; "But how can I return without shame... unless there is indeed no other way, and we are already defeated?"

"You are right, Frodo," said Gandalf, "To go back is to admit defeat, and face worse defeat to come. If we go back now, the Ring must remain there, we shall not be able to set out again. Then sooner or later Rivendell will be besieged, and after a brief and bitter time it will be destroyed."

"Then we must go on, if there is a way," said Frodo with a sigh.

"There is a way that we may attempt," said Gandalf. "I thought from the beginning that we should try it. But it is not a pleasant way, and I have not spoken of it to the Company before. Aragorn was against it, until the pass over the mountains had at least been tried."

"If it is a worse road than the Redhorn Gate, then it must be evil indeed," said Merry.

"The road that I speak of leads to the Mines of Moria," said Gandalf.

"I should have known," sighed Buffy.

"The road may lead to Moria, but how can we hope that it will lead through Moria?" said Aragorn.

"It is a name of ill omen," added Boromir. "Nor do I see the need to go there. If we cannot cross the mountains, let us journey southwards until we come to the Gap of Rohan."

"Things have changed since you came north, Boromir," Gandalf reminded him. "Did you not hear what I told you of Saruman? The Ring must not come near Isengard, if that can by any means be prevented. The Gap of Rohan is closed to us while we go with the Bearer.

"Since our open attempt on the mountain-pass our plight has become more desperate, I fear. I see now little hope, if we do not soon vanish from sight for a while, and cover our trail. Therefore I advise that we should go neither over nor around the mountains, but under them. That is a road at any rate that the Enemy will least expect us to take."

"We do not know what he expects," said Boromir, "He may watch all roads, likely and unlikely. In that case to enter Moria would be to walk into a trap, hardly better than knocking on the gates of the Dark Tower itself."

"You speak of what you do not know, when you liken Moria to Mordor," said Gandalf. "I alone of you have ever been in the dungeons of the Dark Lord. But I would not lead you into Moria if there were no hope of coming out again."

"There is even a chance that Dwarves are there," pointed out Gimli. "I will tread the path with you Gandalf. I will go and look on the halls of Durin... If you can find the doors that are shut."

"Good, Gimli. You encourage me. We will seek the hidden doors together," said Gandalf. "In the ruins of the Dwarves, a dwarf's head will be less easy to bewilder than Elves, Men or Hobbits. Yet it will not be the first time that I have been to Moria."

"I too once passed the Dimrill Gate," said Aragorn quietly. "But though I also came out again, the memory is very evil. I do not wish to enter Moria a second time."

"And I don't wish to enter it even once," said Pippin.

"Nor me," added Sam.

"Of course not!" smiled Gandalf. "Who would? But the question is; who will follow if I lead you there?"

"I will," said Gimli.

"I will," said Aragorn heavily, "You followed my lead almost to disaster in the snow, and have said no word of blame."

"As will I," added Buffy, "A large part of my former life in Sunnydale was spent underground."

"I'm with Elenwë," smiled Dawn.

"I will not go," said Boromir, "Not unless the vote of the whole company is against me. What do Legolas and the little folk say? The Ring-bearer's voice surely should be heard?"

"I do not wish to go to Moria... but I will follow you Mithrandir," said Legolas glancing at Dawn.

Frodo was quiet for sometime, the hobbits knowing they would follow his lead. "I do not wish to go," he said softly, "But neither do I wish to refuse the advice of Gandalf. I beg that we not vote until we have slept on it. Votes will come easier in the light of the morning than in this cold gloom. How the wind howls."

Aragorn and Buffy leapt to their feet looking around. "How the wind howls!" the ranger said, "It is howling with wolf-voices. The Wargs have come west of the Mountains!"

"Need we wait until morning then?" asked Gandalf standing with the rest. "It is as I said. The hunt is up! If we live to see the dawn, who now will wish to journey south by night with wolves on their trail?"

"How far is Moria?" asked Boromir drawing his sword.

"There was a door south-west of Caradhras, some fifteen miles as the crow flies, maybe twenty as the wolf runs," replied Gandalf.

For their defence the Company climbed to the top of the small hill they had previously sheltered under with its knot of old and twisted trees. They lit a fire and awaited the hunting packs.

Round the fire they sat, and those that were not on guard dozed. Dawn smiled, Buffy and Legolas never moved from her side.

The howling of the wargs was now all round them, sometimes nearer and sometimes further off. In the middle of the night many shining eyes were seen around the hill, just outside the firelight many large shapes could be seen.

From the southern end of the hill, a great dark wolf-shape could be seen gazing at them. A shuddering howl broke from his throat as he summoned his pack to the assault.

Gandalf stood up and strode forward, holding his staff aloft, "Listen, Hound of Sauron! Fly, if you value your foul skin! I will shrivel you from tail to snout, if you come within this ring."

The warg snarled and sprang towards him. At that moment, there was a series of sharp twangs as the three Elves had loosed their bows. There was a hideous yell, and the leaping shape thudded to the ground, an elvish arrow in its left eye and two in its throat. The watching eyes disappeared from around the hill as the hunting packs fled into the dark. All about them, the night grew silent.

The night was old and dawn not far off when Frodo suddenly started from sleep. Without warning, a storm of howls broke out all around the camp. A host of wargs had gathered silently and was now attacking them from every side.

"Fling fuel on the fire!" cried Gandalf to the hobbits. "Draw your blades and stand back to back!"

More and more wargs were entering the camp; Dawn was nervous but Legolas' presence next to her kept her steady as she followed his lead and loosed arrow after arrow into the evil creatures.

Buffy drew her blade and joined Aragorn, Boromir and Gimli as they moved around the hobbits and Gandalf striking down many wargs that drew near them. But still more came to take the place of those that had fallen.

In the wavering firelight Gandalf seemed to grow. Stooping like a cloud he lifted a burning branch and strode to meet the wargs. They cowered before him, he threw it high into the air. It flared with a sudden white radiance and his voice rolled like thunder. "Naur an edraith! Naur dan I ngaurhoth!" he cried.

There was a roar and a crackle, and the tree above him burst into flames. The fire leapt from tree-top to tree-top. The last of Legolas arrows kindled in the air as it flew into the heart of a great warg-chieftain and all the others fled.

When the full morning light came they could find no sign of any warg bodies. No trace of the fight remained other than the charred trees, and Dawn and Legolas' arrows lying around the hilltop, all undamaged save the one that had caught fire, leaving only the arrowhead behind.

"It is as I feared," said Gandalf. "These were no ordinary creatures. Let us eat quickly and go!"