Title: New Journeys 12?
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: There and back again and Dawn discovers she has an unusual power.
Notes: Partly from my twisted mind and partly from a transcript taken from BuffyWorld.
Thanks so much to Sarah for stepping in and betaing this story.
'' Thought.
Feedback: If you wish.
Dawn looked around, "Did it have to be here?" she said with a sigh.
"Well it was where the other portal opened, I guess it's a weak spot," said Buffy looking around the yard where they had finally confronted and defeated Glory.
"Where do we go Elenwë?" asked Haldir. "What is that noise?" he said suddenly as he drew his sword.
"Haldir put your sword away. It is called a car... a kind of cart that requires no horses. There are many strange things here, please try not to over react," Buffy explained. "Amaurëa or I will warn you if fighting is required."
"What are we going to tell the others?" asked Dawn.
"We tell them the truth, they will understand." Buffy looked at the paling sky, "We will walk around town for a while so that Haldir and Legolas can see some of the things that may cause unusual reactions and draw attention to us if we wait until more people are around," she said putting the necklace over her head.
"Why aren't we just going straight to the house or Magic Box?" asked Dawn putting her own necklace over her head.
"I want to visit our lawyer first," said Buffy, "I plan to sign over everything we own to the others; after all it is of no use to us."
Dawn smiled, "Great idea." She looked at the other three, "How come we don't look any different?"
"The spell will only affect others," explained Haldir.
"Right let's go," said Buffy. "And please remember; keep your reactions under control."
"What do we do about language? Legolas and Haldir can't speak English, or any other Earth language for that matter," pointed out Dawn.
"If any one asks we'll tell them they are from Finland," said Buffy.
Dawn frowned, "Why Finland?"
"Because Quenya sounds very similar to Finish," explained Buffy leading the others from the yard.
Buffy walked with Haldir holding his hand, occasionally giving it a reassuring squeeze, Dawn doing the same with Legolas, as the two male elves looked around in wonder and some times with fear.
They avoided anywhere their friends may have had call to be. Just before nine, Buffy lead them to the small offices of their lawyer. After a little quick talking with his secretary, she managed to get in to see Mr Evans for five or ten minutes before his first appointment.
When the door opened again, the other three saw Buffy being shown out by a short stocky man, who shook her hand, "It was a pleasure to see you once more Ms Summers. I will see you at your house at 2.30 then. Until then I will say goodbye," he said smiling at her.
"Thank you again Mr Evans, I'm sorry to give you so little notice but as I said Dawn and I are leaving the country."
"I quite understand Ms Summers, I'll see you later, goodbye," Mr Evans said as the four left his offices.
"So know where?" asked Dawn.
"The house," replied Buffy moving quickly in the direction of their former home.
Buffy lead them up onto the porch, she tried the door but it was locked. Smiling at the others, she knocked.
"If that is Mrs Kibble again, I swear this time I'll change her into a rat," they heard Willow say as she descended the stairs.
As Willow opened the door Buffy smiled at her, "Hey Will mind if we come in?" Dawn rolled her eyes as she saw the redhead's eyes narrow. "Willow you're not thinking! It's daylight," Buffy said as she calmly walked through the door as Willow just stood staring at her best friend. "What no Willowbabble... or even a hug?"
"B-Buffy! H-how did you-you get back?" stammered Willow.
"Not the best Willowbabble I've ever heard!" said Buffy her smile turning to a smirk.
At that moment Tara came down the stairs, "D-Dawnie is that you?" she asked a little awed. She was blinking her eyes, trying to get the strange image before her clear. She could see Dawn's aura but the physical person she could see did not look like the teenager she had come to adore.
Willow slowly backed away from the four, having caught Tara's confusion, her eyes narrowed more as she began to gather her power.
Before anyone could say any more Dawn ran to the stairs and running up them she gathering the blonde into a hug, "Tara, it's me, I've missed you so much," she cried as they both fell onto the stairs.
Willow relaxed her power as she saw Tara gather the youngest Summers into a hug. Tara gently pulled Dawn's head away from her so she could look into the teenager's eyes, "But you look so different, y-your e-ears they're p-pointed," Tara said reaching a hand up to touch the tip of Dawn's ear.
"It is me, but the real me, I'm an Elf... But not like Santa's helpers," giggled Dawn as they both helped each other up. "Come on we have so much to tell you," she said enthusiastically taking Tara by the hand and gently leading her friend down the stairs.
Tara allowed herself to be pulled towards the living room, she glanced at Buffy and the two males with her, Buffy giving her a curious look as everyone followed her and Dawn.
Buffy sat on the settee pulling Haldir and Legolas down with her as Dawn stood next to Tara still holding her hand, Willow stood near the door intense curiosity on her face, "How can you see the real Dawn?" Buffy asked.
"I-I don't k-know! I-I j-just can. I can see your true form. W-What are y-you a-all?" stammered the blonde Wicca.
"As Dawn said we are Elves. It's a complicated story and we only have a limited time before we hafta go back," replied Buffy, she turned to Willow, "Will, can you phone Giles, Xander and Anya... Oh and get Giles to swing by and collect Spike."
"Aren't you going to introduce your friends first?" asked Willow.
"Right," smiled Buffy indicating the Elf to her right, "This is Haldir and this is Prince Legolas," she nodded to her left, "...Dawn's special friend," she finished with a smirk.
Dawn's eyes narrowed, "What are you talking about? He's not my boyfriend."
"Oh come on Dawnie you were flirting with him even before we left Rivendell," said Buffy laughing lightly. "I think I should talk to grandfather, have him have a little talk with our Prince here," she mused.
"Don't you dare," stated Dawn firmly, "I have just been a friend to him."
Willow and Tara exchanged amused looks.
Buffy turned to Haldir and Legolas, ignoring her sister's remark, "These are our friends Willow and Tara," she told them in Quenya.
Both Elves rose and bowed deeply to both Wiccas, "Greetings Lady Willow, Lady Tara," said Legolas.
"Huh?" said Willow confused.
Dawn laughed, "They don't speak any Earth languages, Legolas just greeted you," she explained.
"Ah pleased to meet you," said Willow smiling at the two Elves.
"Willow, weren't you going to phone the others?" prompted Buffy.
"Oh right," nodded the redhead leaving to make the calls.
"Tara, any chance you have some juice, we haven't had a drink since we came through the portal at dawn this morning," said Buffy.
"O-of course Buffy," said Tara heading for the kitchen.
Xander and Giles must have broken several speed restrictions as both were pulling up to the house in under twenty minutes, even though Giles had to collect Spike.
As Giles came in with Spike just behind, his head covered with a blanket, the Watcher came to a stop seeing his Slayer and Dawn hugging both Xander and Anya, who had obviously just arrived themselves.
Buffy pulled out of the hug she was sharing with Anya and turned to look at her Watcher, without hesitating she flew into his arms hugging him as tightly as possible without causing him injury. "Giles I never thought I'd see you again," she pulled out of the hug looking at all her friends, "Dawn and I never thought we would see any of you again," she said.
"Well you're home now that is all that matters," said Giles.
"No Giles we're not, this is just a visit. The place we have been living all the time we have been gone is our real home," Buffy explained. "You all better sit down this will take a while."
Giles looked curiously at Buffy for a moment before nodding, "Very well Buffy." He looked at the two strange men that had stood when he came through the door, "But first I think some introductions are in order," he said walking over to the two strangers and extending his hand, "Rupert Giles, and you are?"
Dawn giggled at the confused looks on Legolas and Haldir's faces, "Giles they don't speak English," she told him before turning to explain to the two male elves, "This is Rupert Giles, Elenwë's Watcher... A sort of mentor come teacher. He is holding out his hand because that is how people greet strangers here, just take it in your own and squeeze gently."
Legolas smiled in thanks before turning to the Watcher and taking his hand, "Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood."
Giles looked to Dawn, "He said he is Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood... that's a woodland realm in Middle-Earth."
"A pleasure your highness. If you are a friend of Buffy and Dawn, I hope you can feel free to call upon me for anything."
Dawn and Buffy laughed, "He would prefer you to just call him Legolas," said the teenager.
While Dawn drew Legolas aside to explain what Giles and she had said, Haldir took Legolas' place, Giles looked at Buffy, "This is Haldir, Marchwarden of Lothlórien."
"Greetings Haldir, a pleasure to meet you," said Giles taking the Elf's hand, while Buffy translated.
"Right everyone let's find a seat, our time is very limited if we are to stop the demons from destroying much of Sunnydale," said Buffy.
"What, I don't rate a handshake?" said Spike from the doorway.
"No Spike you don't rate at all," snapped Xander, "Why is he here anyway?" he asked Buffy.
"Because we will need him tonight and for other reasons I'll tell you in a moment," explained Buffy, she heard Dawn quietly whispering a translation for the benefit of Haldir and Legolas. Buffy turned to Spike, "I am sorry Spike I didn't forget you. The reason you don't get a handshake or hug is so you don't get hurt."
"How's a handshake gonna hurt me?" Spike sneered.
"Hold out your hand, palm up," said Buffy. Spike hesitated for a moment before doing so. "I'll be as gentle as I can!" she touched his palm with her fingertip. He wrenched his hand away in pain growling as his vampire vestige came out for a moment.
Buffy stood calmly as Dawn talked quickly to Haldir and Legolas to stop them attacking the Vampire, "Now do you understand?" she said as Spike's Vampire vanished.
"Yeah," said Spike. "So what the bloody hell are you?"
"Have a seat and we will show you," said Buffy not unkindly. She walked over to join Dawn, Haldir and Legolas, "We need to remove our necklaces for a moment so they can understand why Amaurëa and I cannot stay here," she said in Quenya. She turned to their friends, "This is mine and Dawn's true form," she said as with the others she removed her necklace.
All but Tara looked on in wonder as both Buffy, to a greater extent, and Dawn to a lesser, seemed to grow in height and their elvish features appearing, "Dawn and I are called Half-elves because some of our ancestors were from the Race of Men, but Haldir and Legolas are full blood elves." Said the Slayer before turning to the other, "Put your necklaces back on or most of them will be to distracted, especially Xander and Spike," she said in Quenya.
Dawn giggled, but Haldir and Legolas did not look pleased; "Do you think Xander is thinking about the crush I had on him and he is regretting not succumbing to my charms!" Dawn asked in Quenya.
"Amaurëa," said Buffy in outrage as Dawn just giggled more as she replaced her necklace. "Right, this is quite a long story so keep any questions till I finish... I was born in a place called Rivendell that is a place in Middle-earth, in the year 1231 of the third age, I know that doesn't mean anything to you but in Middle-earth the year is now 3018 of the third age," she smiled at her friends' gasps.
"Anyway some five hundred years ago I and my mother Celebrían where returning home from Lothlórien, my grandparents home, when we were attacked by evil creatures called orcs. They killed everyone but my mother and I, they chased us for sport, you need to realise that I was not a slayer at the time and was no match for even one Orc. Anyway, that was when one of the Valar rescued us; they are the Powers That Be in Middle-earth.
"When the orcs were all dead he explained that I was to return with him for a task and he commanded my mother to tell no one of anything he had told us. Well I went with him and he began my training. When the time came they placed me into Joyce Summers womb to be born as a member of the Race of Men, you should all know that although my essence was always Elvish my body was Human. That changed when I entered the portal, my Elven essence combined with the energy of the portal to return me to my natural form," she explained.
"And because Dawn was made from you, she is also an Elf," deduced Giles.
"Yes," said Buffy.
"You said these Valar took you for a task! Can you tell us what that task was or is?" asked Giles.
"The most important part of my task was to protect Dawn from Glory, the other part was to help to change the Council," explained Buffy. "A Wizard friend in Middle-earth thinks the idea was that when I returned home Dawn was to go with me! You see there is a great evil there that we are attempting to defeat and somehow Dawn is needed, but we haven't worked out how yet."
Giles nodded as he turned everything over in his mind.
"Buff you said something about the demons destroying part of the town?" put in Xander. "Is that why you came back?"
"Only partly," said Buffy seriously. "I came here to sort out all of you."
"What do you mean?" asked Willow.
"I had a very interesting, and disturbing, Slayer-dream. And we are not leaving this room until we have sorted it out," announced Buffy firmly. She looked at Giles, "Please don't leave them, they need you here... You have always been a father to us all. The gang still need your guidance... that came out in the dream. Do you think the Council could get Faith released from prison?" asked Buffy.
"What!" cried Xander jumping up, "Are you nuts?"
Buffy smiled, "No Xander. You and the Hellmouth need a Slayer... I know you have some issues with Faith," she said gently. "When Angel came up from LA for Mum's funeral, he told me that she has changed, she is ready to fight the good fight again."
"And of course deadboy's opinion is the only one that counts," retorted Xander.
Buffy's eyes took on a steely look, "In this instant, yes. This is the only time we will be able to help you. But I will tell you this. Because of you four," she looked at Willow, Tara and Anya before looking back at Xander, "Planning to use the Urn of Janus to try and bring Dawn and me back, both you and Tara will be killed as the portal opens."
Xander paled as the other three gasped; "You four planned on opening a portal," cried Giles his face going purple with rage, "Of all the idiotic things you could have thought up." He took several deep breaths to calm himself before looking at Buffy, "You are right Buffy, it seems I am needed here. But I fail to see why Faith is needed, granted we have not had a Slayer here for three weeks, but we have not done to badly."
"I saw your fight with a rather large vampire that took almost every one of the gang to take down," said Buffy receiving gasps from everyone. "I also know you have the Robot pretending to be me. And that she was injured fighting another vampire near the Magic Box. That vampire got away and has now told a large group of demons that will arrive tonight. How long before it becomes generally known that there is no Slayer protecting the Hellmouth?"
Giles nodded, "Yes I see your point. I'll contact the Council today and see what can be done."
"Great Giles," said Buffy. "Now before we work on a plan to stop the demon bikers that are on their way here, I'd like to sort out something else first. Mine and Dawn's property here, it is no good to us. So Anya, will you exchange a 10 share of the Gallery for a third of your Magic Box share? You will find that the income from the Gallery is almost twice that of the Box!"
"Alright you have a deal," clapped Anya, ever the enthusiast where money was concerned.
"Good," Buffy said then looked at Giles. "Giles I'll trade you one third of the Gallery for one third of your share of the Box."
"Wait, why do I only get a tenth when Giles gets a third?" asked Anya angrily.
"Just be patient and you'll be happy, promise. Well Giles?"
"Very well Buffy, but if you are planning to dispose of your assets, why do you wish to have a third share of the Magic Box?" said Giles.
"You'll see in a minute," smiled the Slayer, she turned back to the irate former vengeance demon. "I am giving you your remaining third part of the Gallery as a wedding gift from Dawn and me," she could not help laughing at the looks everyone from Sunnydale was giving the couple.
"H-how did you know?" asked Xander.
Buffy tapped her head, "Slayer-dream. Congrats Xand," she said.
Giles stood with the rest as Dawn, Willow and Tara hugged the engaged couple. The Watcher shook Xander's hand, "Congratulations Xander at your good fortune," he said in all is Englishness, before lightly hugging Anya.
"Right let's get back to me giving presents!" Buffy looked at the two Wiccas, "The rest of the Gallery is yours, as is the third of the Box I just traded from Giles and Anya," she said.
"T-thank you Buffy," said Tara still a little overwhelmed by the sight of the four elves.
"The house is also yours on two conditions, one, if and when Faith comes to Sunnydale she is allowed to stay here, part of the problem last time was that she was on her own too much. And second that Spike takes up residence in the basement..."
"You can't be serious Buffy," exclaimed Xander, "What happens if his chip goes wrong?"
"It won't Xand. My grandmother experienced my Slayer-dream, it was her power that sent us here, she saw the chance for Spike's redemption." She looked at the Vampire, "Spike I don't know how! But you still retain your soul, but at the moment it is still swamped by your demon. I think the chip is just helping your soul overcome your demon."
Spike said nothing, but his demon was not pleased with the revelation.
"We can help Spike and Faith," said Tara, Willow just nodded having sunk into herself with the revelation that her plan to bring back Buffy and Dawn would have cost both her lover and best friend their lives.
"Right well our lawyer will be here at 2.30 with all the paperwork, for convenience I will sign over the Gallery to you Giles and the house over to you two," Buffy explained looking at Willow and Tara. "Giles can then sort out the transfers later."
"Of course Buffy," smiled Giles.
"If I could make a suggestion though Giles," Buffy added. "You take over the running of the Gallery and leave the running of the Box to Anya."
"Yes I take your meaning, and it could help secure any dangerous artefacts we come across," said Giles thinking of the Zombie mask incident.
"Yes exactly," said Buffy smiling that her plan had worked out so well. But then she turned serious, "Now the demons that are on there way here."
"Yes Buffy, can you provide us with a description of them, so we have some idea about any special abilities we will have to counter," said Giles.
"Not much! They looked like some kind of crossbreed, most are about six and a half feet tall, I know it won't mean anything to you, but they kinda looked like orcs. Some had really long sharp claws though and I think the leader has some kind of special metal claws he can retract."
"Well can you give us a description of these orcs!" asked Giles.
"Well let's see... Six, six, or there about's, very muscular, but I think these demons are stronger, and where as most orcs are more likely to run away if confronted by a stronger opponent, the demons will probably fight to the last," explained Buffy.
"So how many are coming?" asked Xander.
"About a hundred!" said Buffy getting yet another gasp from most of the Scoobies.
"Buffy you can't be serious," exclaimed Giles taking off his glasses and pinching the bridge of his nose. "Even with the element of surprise we would not stand a chance against so many... Maybe if we contacted Angel and could get him here with his friends," the Watcher mused.
"No he probably has his own problems," said Buffy then she smirked, "But you have not seen what four elves with bows can do, trust me, they won't know what hit them."
"Are you sure of this Elenwë?" asked Haldir, "Your friends do not look very skilled! And why does that evil creature need to be here," he said with a sneer at Spike.
Buffy look over to the Marchwarden, "Did we not have a similar conversation before leaving Lórien!" she said, "Do not be so quick to judge. These friends of mine have helped me fight and defeated more evil in the last five years than you have seen in the last two thousand. Plus this is their world and they know more about how things are here than you do... And Spike will be needed tonight; did you not hear what grandmother told us before leaving home?"
Haldir bowed rather stiffly, "My apologises my love. You are right I know nothing of this very strange place," he said.
Spike looked at Haldir, having seen the sneer aimed at him, before turning to the Slayer, "He your new squeeze!" he asked, "Don't like me much does he?"
"I pledged my love to him four hundred years before you were born Spike," said Buffy sternly. "And no, he does not like you. You are not a very nice person to know," she smirked then, "But that will change as your soul exerts itself over the demon."
"So you cheated on him with Peaches," Spike smirked, "Does he know?"
"No not yet but he will when I have time to talk to him. Anyway at the time I had no memory of my other life."
"I think we are getting a little off topic," pointed out Giles.
"Right," agreed Buffy. "Well the demon bikers are using the road that runs west of Breaker's Wood. Haldir, Legolas, Dawn and I will wait in the woods and start shooting them as they pass; the rest of you will be armed with crossbows a little further down the road. With all the chaos that we will cause, is when Spike, Xander, you Giles, and I will attack them in hand-to-hand while the rest continue to fire at them from the woods."
Giles smiled as he nodded his agreement, "Yes a very good plan."
"Hey," put in Xander, "Why not string a rope across the road as well!"
"They would see it Xand," pointed out Buffy.
"Well couldn't Willow or Tara make it invisible or something," said Xander.
"Yeah we can do that," said Willow. "It's a fairly simple spell." She looked up at Buffy for the first time since the Slayer had revealed what would have happened had they attempted to open a portal, "I'm so sorry Buffy. We...I thought you were in some Hell dimension."
Buffy walked over to her best friend, pulled her to her feet and drew her into a hug, "Of course I forgive you. But Willow I think you need some proper training, I know you are very powerful but your control has always been touch and go... Will, I love you; I don't want you to hurt yourself, or anyone else."
"I know of a Coven in England that may be willing to help," put in Giles. "I could contact them and see if they would be amenable, you and Tara could spend the summer with them."
Willow pulled out of the hug and looked at her lover who smiled as she nodded her consent. "Okay if you think it's best," she said looking at her friends.
"I do Willow," said Buffy. "Now how about we have lunch and Dawn and I can tell you all about the things we have been doing since we entered the Portal!"
"Great," said Xander as his stomach growled its agreement making everyone laugh.
Tara got up heading for the kitchen, "Is there anything elves can't eat?" she asked looking at Buffy.
"No, although we usually eat fresh produce as opposed to things like meat etc." explained Buffy following behind the two Wiccas.
After the meal, which was filled with laughter and light-hearted ribbing, Buffy, with some encouragement from Legolas, persuaded Dawn to sing for their friends.
"What should I sing?" Dawn asked.
"Something from your new home," suggested Giles.
"Well I only really know one at the moment," said Dawn. She closed her eyes to collect her thoughts and still closed she began to sing,
"A Elbereth Gilthoniel,
silivren penna miriel
o menel aglar elenath!
Na-chaered palan-diriel..."
At that moment, Spike returned from looking over his potential new home in the basement and fell to the floor holding his ears as he wailed in pain.
Dawn rose in concern and would have ran to someone she had always considered a friend but Buffy was there holding her, "You can't touch him," she reminded her sister.
Spike slowly rose, even paler than normal, and visibly shaken; "Spike what's wrong?" asked Dawn as Buffy released her.
"That horrible noise," explained Spike, "Where the hell did you learn something like that?"
"What do you mean? That was the most beautiful voice I have ever heard," said Giles.
"Then your idea of beautiful is warped," growled the Vampire.
"No Spike," mused Tara, "I think it is your idea, or should I say your demon's idea of beautiful that has the problem," she looked at Buffy for her thoughts.
"Yes I think your right Tara... If you think about it, if the touch of an Elf can hurt why not songs, especially a song to one of the Vala!" said Buffy.
"So that song could be considered a hymn!" added Giles.
"Ah yeah I suppose it could," said Buffy.
"I don't want to hurt Spike, but I wonder if it is the song to Elbereth that caused it or just you?" said Buffy to Dawn in Quenya.
"I have no idea, being an Elf is kind of new to me," Dawn pointed out smiling.
"Maybe you should sing Elenwë!" suggested Legolas.
"Alright," said Buffy before turning to their Sunnydale friends, "We want to do an experiment, so I'm going to sing the same song." She began to sing but although Spike cringed at the sound it did not have the same effect as Dawn's, so next Buffy sang a different song and Spike gave no reaction at all.
"I wonder if my singing would have a similar effect on orcs?" mused Dawn a little elated that she may actually have a useful power.
"I don't know but if it does then that may be why you were meant to return with me!" said Buffy.
"We'll have to find some orcs when we get back," smirked Dawn. She turned to the others who had stood around waiting for an explanation, "Sorry guys, we were just speculating if my singing would work on orcs back home..."
"What is it Dawn?" asked Buffy as her sister trailed off.
"Oh... ah nothing to do with anything, it just occurred to me that I've started to think of Middle-earth as home and not Sunnydale," she explained.
"Right," said Giles, "It seems that we may have a secret weapon, if we have any problems tonight we can have Dawn sing."
"Good point Giles," said Willow, she turned to Dawn, "That was the most beautiful singing I have ever heard."
Dawn blushed, looking at the floor, "Thanks," she said.
Everything was now set, Haldir and Xander had strung the thick rope across the road and Willow had made it invisible.
Buffy looked to her fellow elves as she hid with them just inside the tree line, "Wait until they hit the rope then aim at those still mounted," she said.
"Right, and you be careful when you go head-to-head with them," said Dawn. "I still need you to show me what it is to be an Elf? At least when the monks made me human they gave me memories of what that entailed?"
They waited in silence; the minutes seemed to drag on as the moon began to appear over the horizon. Then the four elves began to hear the low rumble of dozens of motorbikes growing louder as they drew closer.
Buffy drew an arrow and notched it as she saw Dawn, ever close to Legolas do the same, the presence of the Elven Prince, as always, seeming to calm the teenager.
They continued to wait as the tension grew with the sound of engines. Then suddenly the road was flooded with headlights as the demons came into sight, she saw Dawn tense slightly as she tracked the bikes.
Suddenly chaos erupted from the road as the lead Demon bikers hit the rope, their bikes continuing down the road, sparks flying in all directions, as some of the demons were run over by those behind and others flew into those that had managed to slow down, knocking them off as well.
The Scooby Gang were momentarily stunned as the air seemed to be suddenly filled with arrows that eerily struck the demons in their chests or necks, at least a dozen fell before all the bikes had stopped. The group of demons at the back, having managed to stop before hitting those in front, began aiming their bikes towards the four elves positions to ride them down.
Buffy dropped her bow and drew her sword as the other three continued their aerial assault. As she moved forward, where she was joined by Spike who welded an axe. Buffy jumped to the side of the first demon, slashing him across the throat before jumping back again to avoid the second, this one losing his head completely. Spike jumped straight up in the air kicking out at his first opponent, catching him in the head causing him to crash into a tree, as he came down he planted his axe into the top of another demon's head.
Meanwhile the Scooby Gang released crossbow bolts into some of the demons that had fallen off their bikes and had began to rise, managing to kill three. Leaving the young women to continue firing bolts into the demons Giles, welding a sword, and Xander with an axe, ran forward to meet the demons in close quarters.
Giles ducked under a poorly swung baseball bat before plunging his sword into the demon's stomach and for good measure when he pulled it back out he sliced it across its neck; he then moved on to a demon welding a machete. Meanwhile Xander had planted his axe into the face of his opponent, as he pulled it out he saw another one swinging a bat towards his head, quickly ducking he could not help grinning as it hit his first opponent in the face. Swinging his axe sideways he hit the second demon in his midsection, getting a satisfactory grunt from it before bring his axe down between his neck and shoulder blade.
By this time Buffy and Spike had reached the road where the remaining two dozen or so demons had gathered to attack en masse. Razor had just watched the Slayer, that damned blood rat had told them was a robot, cut down his lieutenant, Mag. He strode forward as the Slayer cut down another of his boys, he caught her sword with his metal claws before growling at her, "Little girl, I'm going to rip out your heart and eat it in front of you as you die, you bitch." He made to swipe his other clawed hand across her face but she ducked.
She watched with a smile as two arrows hit him, one in the neck and one in his right eye; as she straightened she slashed both sides of his neck in quick succession, watching for only a moment as he fell backwards, dead. She turned and took the head of the nearest demon as Spike cleaved in the head of yet another to her right and Giles and Xander joined her on the left.
From start to finish, it had been less than ten minutes, but to Dawn, it had seemed to be a lifetime, but as with the Warg attack and then the fight in Moria, the presence of Legolas held her steady. They had both run out of arrows just after Buffy had reached the group of demons on the road, having put their last ones into the very large demon the Slayer faced.
Legolas had drawn his long knife and stood close to Dawn ever vigilant for danger as he scanned the wood. On seeing that all the demons were dead! Legolas accompanied Dawn as everyone made their way to the Slayer.
Haldir strode towards where Buffy stood with Giles, Xander and Spike, as he was about to pass the many Demon bodies his keen Elven earring detected the low moaning of one that was obviously not dead, he pulled back his sword intent on finishing it.
"No Haldir, wait," cried Buffy hurrying to his side as he held the sword poised to strike, "We can use him to help avoid similar attacks in the future," she said in Quenya a smirk coming to her beautiful face. She turned to Spike, "Spike will you stand him up! I'd like to talk to him."
Spike nodding walked over and lifted the quite badly injured Demon to his feet to face the Slayer, "I told you that letting that Vampire escape to tell other demons I wasn't around anymore would get them here," she said winking at them.
"Yes Buffy," agreed Giles realising what his Slayer was up to. "If we hadn't it may have been months before we could deal with them, after all we could not leave the Hellmouth unguarded!" he said.
Buffy could hear Dawn once more acting as translator to Haldir and Legolas, she turned back to the Demon, "And your Demon Gang fell for it," she laughed dramatically for his benefit. "You can go now," she said as Spike shoved him back the way he and his Gang had come, "But if I ever see you around here again you will not get off so lightly. Now get out of here," she ordered.
They watched as the Demon staggered to one of the bikes and righting it, got on and with a roar of engine headed back up the road.
"I must say Buffy that was quite brilliant, when he spreads the word about what happened here, anyone that escapes Sunnydale in the near future and tells them the Hellmouth is unguarded is unlikely to be believed," said Giles looking back at Buffy.
"That's what I figured; at least if something happens to Faith or the Council is unable to get her released you should have fewer problems in the future!" said Buffy.
"Was that wise Elenwë?" asked Legolas, "To release him so?"
"Most of the lesser demons are not very intelligent. Anyone that tries again will probably be killed for the suggestion alone. You know that grandmother told us we could not return again, so I wish to help them as I can," said Buffy.
"Of course Elenwë," said Legolas. He looked around, "Should we dispose of these creatures? We must return to the Portal soon."
"Yes," agreed Buffy looking around before turning to Willow and Tara, "Anything you can do about the bodies guys?"
Willow frowned as she also looked at the scattered Demon bodies, "We could consume them in fire! But it will be easier if we had them all together."
"Okay," said Buffy, "We'll pile them on the side of the road and then while you two deal with the bodies the rest of us will move the bikes off the road."
It took much longer to remove all the bikes than the bodies as with the exception of Buffy, Xander, Spike, Legolas and Haldir it took two or three of the others to move one bike.
Buffy pushed the last bike down the small slop next to the road and looked up, the sky was getting lighter; "We need to hurry or we will be trapped here for eternity," she said.
They all piled into the three cars and sped back to town arriving at the Portal just before dawn. Buffy looked to Legolas and Haldir, "Go, Amaurëa and I will follow shortly," she said. Nodding the two elves stepped into the Portal and vanished. "Well I guess this is it guys," she said tears standing in her eyes before she and Dawn flew into their friends arms hugging them tightly.
"I'll miss you," said Willow as she hugged Buffy, "You have helped me so much over the years."
"Look after yourself," Buffy said pulling away from the redhead, "Look after each other, remember you are stronger together." She quickly hugged Xander, Anya and Tara before finishing with Giles, "Thanks for everything Giles, take care of them for me," she whispered.
"Of course Buffy, be well," said Giles releasing her.
Tara gently tucked Dawn's hair behind her ear as they pulled out of their hug, "I'll miss you Dawnie, look after yourself," she said softly.
"I'll never forget you Tara. After mum... died... you helped me so much," said Dawn the tears running down her cheeks.
"Y-you h-help-helped me t-too," stammered Tara as the tears flowed freely down her face.
As the two were about to enter the Portal Buffy suddenly stopped, remembering something? Digging into her pocket, she pulled out the crystal phial and held it out to Tara, "I forgot this in all the excitement earlier. Our grandmother, Galadriel told me to give you this; it holds the light of Eärendil's star, my father's father and will destroy any vampire that it is held up to. I have no idea why she told me to give it to you. But keep it in memory of us. Farewell," she said as, holding Dawn's hand, she entered the Portal and was gone.
A/N: This chapter is probably the last weekly update as you have now just about caught up with me! I only have about half of the next part written. BUT I will be continuing to press on with it (There will only be a couple of parts until the end of the Fellowship. Then onto the Two Towers!)
Blessings to those that have reviewed this as well as those that have enjoyed the read.
Dave
