I CAPTURE THE SUN
Pairings: Buffy/Legolas
Teaser: Buffy ends up in Heaven, which happens to be Middle-Earth. But not everything is as heavenly as it seems as she's come in the middle of a war and finds a piece of Heaven worth fighting for.
Rating: PG-13.
Summary: Buffy's version of Heaven is Middle-Earth. When she arrives, she is brought to a clan of fighting women. Seeing this as her eternal reward for fighting and killing on Earth, Buffy is only too happy to return to her roots - until she is captured by the Elves and begins to learn there's a whole lot more worth fighting for... in Heaven.
Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer belongs to Joss Whedon. The 'Lord of the Rings' book series belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien. The plot is (hopefully) my own.
Timeline: The story is currently set approximately fifty years before the start of the Fellowship. Buffy has been in Middle-earth for roughly twenty-three years.
Gratitudes: I really thank you for your comments. They will only make this story better! Yes, this fiction is intense. It is meant to be. These people will be gone within two sections, that I can assure you and thus the rest of the story will begin. As a warning, I will stick with canon on the Buffy-front of things. I hope you enjoy this section and once again, my apologies for the lateness of this section.
Part Summary: Buffy leaves the Woodland Realm, and she and Siri must work past their differences in order to see a future for Siri's people.
Notes: Once again, I thank you for your patience. It has been a rather difficult week. I know some of you look for the mushy of the romantic side of things, but I fear you may have to wait awhile. I did manage to include one moment, but until the next time they meet… they will likely be at one another's throats again.
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Part IX
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It was long since past when Buffy had sent Daire and Siri away. She remained in the gardens, lost in thought. Most of the thoughts centered on the two women she had raised as her own children. And yet, despite all she had been through, it was still difficult to face what came ahead.
From what she could see, she had two choices. She had already made the first. She was going to do what her people had asked of her – she was going to make certain her people would get home, no matter what the cost. It would seem her choices divided here, for she could either travel with them or else remain here and face the war she knew was coming.
It was so clear that the choice had already been made for her. She knew she was going to remain behind. It had been that way from the beginning. She was here for a reason and it was something beyond watching a ragtag group of villagers live. She had defended them. She had nurtured them. She had protected them. The turn was now their own.
She was so lost in her own thoughts that she did not hear Daire return. It was only when she felt a hand on her shoulder did she turn sharply, nearly knocking the younger girl aside. "Oh," she said, seeing the startled look on Daire's face. "I'm… sorry. Did you need something?"
"I must apologize for my actions, earlier," Daire said in a breathless tone, still rather flustered. "I was angry and you had every right to do what you did."
"I told you the truth when you asked for it," Buffy replied swiftly. "See, had you asked me ten years ago, it might have been a different story."
"Where will you go?" Daire asked softly. "Will you ride with us? Or shall you remain behind with the Elves?"
"I think you already know the answer," Buffy said sharply. "You're a smart girl, Daire. I raised you to be intelligent."
"You raised me to be like you," Daire said, a hint of pride in her voice.
Buffy turned her head and gave the teenager a wan smile. "I did what I thought was best and if you see that as being the best, well… I'm happy things turned out this way."
"Yet you carry too little pride for your people?" Daire asked.
"This isn't about pride or blood, Daire," Buffy said, "it's about power. The balance of power in this world is about to fall apart. War is coming, Daire, and it isn't the type of war we come back from. I can feel it… it's coming and it's coming fast."
"Will you fight in this war?"
"I will," Buffy replied. It wasn't a boasting, arrogant tone of belonging, Daire realized. It was the simple truth, and it had come straight from her leader's lips.
"Will you die?" Daire asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Buffy let out a short, bitter laugh. It was bad enough that she'd appeared in this world from a hole in the sky. It was even worse when people didn't understand that shadows couldn't die – they were already dead. "No," she said, and watched as Daire's face brightened. "I'm not going to die again."
This was not what the younger girl had wanted to hear. Her face fell slightly as she turned away. Then, "Will you see us go?"
"Yeah, I'll do that much," Buffy said, watching as the younger girl twisted her hands, looking rather alarmed. "I'm not going to let you go blindly into the mountains, Daire. I won't do that again."
Daire was looking over Buffy's shoulder, her eyes widening as a figure approached.
"Who is it?" Buffy asked, not wanting to turn around in case it was someone she did not wish to speak with.
"The Elvish Prince approaches," Daire said, glancing at Buffy's face, which seemed to tighten with anger. "Do not lash out at him, my Lady. It will only serve to remind you of allies you could have had once this war of yours begins." As Legolas came, his hands neatly folded before him as he strolled, she bowed to both Buffy and the Prince. "I shall take my leave of you now. I will collect Siri and we shall ride to our camp outside this realm. You are free to join us, my Lady. In fact, we would not have it any other way."
"We'll see," Buffy said, and left it at that.
Daire sped away as Legolas walked to Buffy's location. She stared at the Elf quietly for a moment before turning away. "Are you going to ask me pointless questions about why I exist?" she asked, a hard edge to her voice.
"I know what it is your people have told you," he said in his calm voice.
"Funny," she snapped. "I didn't think that you were that tactful."
"You must be angry," he continued.
"What do you think?" she snapped, walking away from him. "I finally get out of hell only to be dumped back into hell… you're not helping matters any by being here, you know."
He didn't reply. He just watched her rant as though he knew he deserved a piece of her anger.
"Just tell me this: did you know we were supposed to bond?" she asked, her tone a harsh whisper. "Whatever that means, I mean."
"Where was it that they heard those words from?" he asked.
"From your guards to the south," she replied, folding her arms before her. "I think you know what binding oneself to another means, right? If you think I'm going to sit here and wait for those evil things to come and take me back again, you're sorely mistaken."
There was a different light in his eyes now as he glanced up at her. "Will you not go with your people?"
"I have no place with them anymore," she said with a careless shrug. "I'll get them out of the forest but once they're gone, I will have nothing more to do with them."
"You do not see this as to abandon them?" he asked quietly.
"I was never meant to be there in the first place," Buffy answered, staring out over the river and the dim shadows moving below. A faint breeze caught her hair and lifted it around her eyes as she turned back to face the Elven Prince. Her anger wasted, she forced a smile. "There are only so many things I can do. It's about time I let them go."
He saw the resolved look on her face and averted his gaze as she strode past him. "My lady?" he called to her.
She half-turned back, her eyes narrowing. "Yes?" she asked pointedly.
"The King has requested that you join him—"
"Tell your father that unless he starts telling the truth, I won't be so forthcoming in my appearances," she said coolly. "If he wants to start explaining things, he'll know where to find me." Turning, she disappeared past the gardens and into the night.
Legolas watched her move away before turning back to the gardens and resting his hand on one of the crystal-white statues. She wasn't going with her people. She was going to make certain they would get to safety and then she would remain within these hallowed woods, haunted by the shadows that seemed to lure her towards the darkness. She seemed to have strength and power enough to challenge these shadows and in the coming war, she would be needed. It brought him a great sense of relief to know that when the battles came to their realm, they would have a strong defender to protect it. She may not agree with a lot of King Thranduil's thoughts, but she knew that given her place in this world, her duty was to belong to the world of fighting.
Buffy made her way quietly from the realm, drawing as little attention to herself as possible. She walked east, towards an old trading route leading towards the lake town. She found several tents blowing gaily in the late evening breeze and several fires made for cooking. When the women saw their lady approach, many gave cries of welcome.
"We did not think you would come," Alwyn said, quickly bowing away as Buffy approached the group. Buffy gave them a tender half-smile before finding a seat near the leaders. After a few moments' pause, she reached down and pulled out one of the cooking sticks. Already the women were placing the tents as a dome over the fires and hanging kettles and pots. Motioning for the leaders to gather around her, she began to draw in the dirt.
Day soon faded to night and all of the women had gone to rest when Buffy decided to take the first watch herself. She was in a generous mood and, after all, had been getting enough rest. These women had traveled a far distance in a short amount of time and that was no easy trek.
Yet she felt uneasy as she wandered around the camp, staring into the faces she had known for years. She knew each by name and that had been an adventure in itself, she thought with a wry smile. They all had such different names, and many were hard to pronounce. It had taken her quite some time to get Alwyn's name out of her mouth the correct way.
Her mind was transported back to years before. It had been a quiet evening, one that many would see as one of the worst of their existences. It had been that night that their leader, the strongest woman they had known to date, had died. She had fallen ill with sickness and grief after the loss of her husband and all of his men. Succumb to living a life of despair and hopelessness, Edrae had watched her children fall one by one to illness and madness. She had ordered her son to be taken and hidden from the rest of her people, as his nightmares were most disturbing to both her and to the people around them.
It had been Buffy who had gone out every evening to see him. He had been locked inside a cage long enough to move about in, but small enough to confine him to his area of the forest. He had begged and pleaded with her to release him and, in the end, she had. She wasn't a monster and disobeying an order from her leader wasn't really applicable considering Buffy was more of a free spirit that happened to be trusted. Yet she had saved this child in her youth and for this reason alone she rescued him from his confinements.
It had been unfortunate when he had died a few years later of the fever which had seemed to spread like plague through their encampment.
Her mind turned back to her last conversation ever with Edrae and she found herself pacing uneasily as though memories were dredged back up.
It was nearly nightfall when Buffy had returned to the village, a few of the other women in tow. Their hunt had been successful as was seen by the older women preparing their meal. Buffy had taken her leave of them and had gone to inquire about Edrae's latest illness, something that looked to be a rather contagious form of pneumonia. Because Buffy saw it as contagious, she only allowed a midwife to accompany her.
"The news is most grave, your High," the midwife said with a low bow of her head. "I fear she may not last the night."
"Can I talk to her?" Buffy asked, feeling uneasy.
"My lady," the midwife had replied, stepping aside. Buffy had ducked inside the smaller tent to find a wasted woman lying on a cot, nearly spent. The midwife stepped in after Buffy, heading straight to a pail of water suspended from the overhead beams. After dipping a cloth inside, she turned and began to sponge off Edrae's face carefully.
"Edrae," Buffy said, quickly taking the older woman's hand, grimacing as she saw the vanished youth and beauty vanquished from such a respectable form. "Tell me what I can do…"
"I do not have much time remaining," Edrae said, her voice barely more than a throaty rasp. "You must… help them. Get them home…"
"That I can do," Buffy said, gently reaching over and removing the cloth from the midwife's outstretched hand. "Is there anything else?"
"My daughter… is she well?"
"She's great," Buffy replied tightly. "She's been asking about you."
"What have you told her?" Edrae managed to gasp out, before doubling over with loud, heaving coughs.
"That her mother will see her soon," Buffy said honestly. "But I'm not going to lie to her forever. She deserves the truth, Erae. She is old enough to know the difference between life and death—"
"Will you take my child?" Edrae asked, turning to look at Buffy with pleading, wasted eyes. "I have no strength left. You know this. You know that my body will not last forever."
Buffy wordlessly nodded, not knowing what to otherwise say.
"Will you care for Siri? Will you be there when I cannot?"
"Of course," Buffy said quickly. "I'm not going to just dump her anywhere."
"I know this is not the task you wanted nor set for yourself," Edrae said softly, "but I believe that you are the only one who can what remains of my people now."
"If I can do my part, I will," Buffy assured her, setting the cloth aside and stroking the woman's face. "You should get some rest."
"No," Edrae said sternly, taking Buffy's hand with a surprisingly firm grip for one so weak. "You must listen. Even the very young do not always do as they are told. They need you. They will always need you to be there for them."
"I get it," Buffy said quietly, just as she noticed a shadow on the other side of the billowy curtain.
"My lady?" a voice called from the outside. "Siri is calling for you. She wishes to speak with you as soon as you are able."
"I'll be right there!" Buffy called back, before turning to Edrae. "Don't worry about your people. I don't know what I can do for them, but if I can protect them, I will. They'll get home, safe and sound."
"That," Edrae said, her eyelids drooping slightly, a slight smile appearing on her frosty white lips, "is all I ask."
Her eyes closed suddenly as her body shuddered with pain. The midwife stood up, looking alarmed as Buffy rose, hearing a child calling her from a distance.
"Keep her as comfortable as you can," Buffy told the midwife as she gently set Edrae's hand across her chest. "She doesn't have more than an hour left at the most."
The midwife turned to Buffy, as though asking how Buffy could say such things. Buffy gave her a soft pat on the shoulder before leaving the tent. Only as the curtains swished shut behind her did she hear the sounds of weeping. Taking a deep breath, Buffy forced herself to walk the few steps into Siri's room.
Once she had left Siri, Buffy returned only to discover that Edrae had died during Buffy's absence. As the midwife drew the cloak from Edrae's once-beautiful face, Buffy gently leaned down and pressed her hand to the cold cheek. "Rest in peace," Buffy said softly, before pulling the cloak back up. Turning to the midwife, she was slightly surprised when the older woman nearly attacked her with a weak embrace, the tears flowing freely from her eyes. Her screams and wails alerted many others to what had just occurred.
But it wasn't until morning when Siri had finally discovered the truth about what had happened.
"Where's Mama?" Siri asked, ducking outside of her own curtain. She wasn't surprised to see Buffy sitting on a bench across from her. "Buffy?"
"Come here," Buffy said, moving slightly to the side and patting the empty space next to her. Confused, Siri bounded over and leapt onto the bench, staring hard at the stony face before her. "Siri, I have to tell you something and it's not going to be what you want to hear."
"Where's Mama?" Siri demanded again, her voice becoming more frightened. "I want my mother!"
Buffy felt the first crack in her emotional distress begin to peel away. She had promised herself she would remain strong for this child but her defenses were soon quailing as she turned her face away. "She's not here," Buffy said quietly.
Siri stopped breathing for a second. "Where is she?" Siri asked, the fear evident in her voice. "Where is my mother, Buffy?"
"She's gone," Buffy said, turning back to the child. "She's been sick for a very long time and last night… last night she went to the great Halls."
Siri's eyes widened at the thought of her mother joining all of the great heroes of legend. She looked awed as she stared at Buffy, although her mind was not processing what the older woman had just said to her. "Is she coming back?"
Buffy shook her head no and watched Siri's reaction carefully. The little girl looked down and after a moment she stood up, moving a few steps away. Buffy watched her as her eyes began to water. Even at such a young age, Siri had been through so much, losing most of her family within the past few years.
"Siri, your mother wants me to look after you now," Buffy said, reaching for the child. But Siri backed away, crying out.
"Do not touch me, you spawn!" Siri screamed, a tear rolling down her cheek. "You have said lies and speak that my mother will never return! All shall from the Halls someday! That is the lessons my Mama taught me!"
Buffy looked doubtfully at the girl still trying to pull herself together. After a moment, the child turned and fled down the passage. Buffy watched her go, feeling as though a piece of her had died again.
Buffy opened her eyes at the rustle of the grass behind her. She quickly reached down and grasped the handle of her sword, swinging it out and aiming it at the neckline of her attacker which turned out to be the child she had been dreaming of.
"Siri," Buffy said, pulling the sword away.
"It has been a few hours," Siri said, walking past her. "I will take the rest of the night. You should rest."
"I'm not the one leaving this forest," Buffy said quickly. "I don't need this rest."
"You have your war," Siri said coolly. "We have our petty needs and our Neanderthal stories that speak of the great hopes that lie ahead for our people."
"Damned if I do," Buffy whispered under her breath, "and damned if I don't."
"What say you?" Siri asked.
"We have been at odds for quite a few years now," Buffy said, walking up beside the younger woman and replacing her sword in its sheath. "I know that you're old enough to take control of these people now and if I—"
"I know now why my mother chose you to take care of us," Siri said, attempting to choose her words very carefully. "She believed you to be a woman of great morals. She entrusted you with my care and you promised to always look after me. You promised to take care of our people. Is this your word to her that you will now go back on?"
"The circumstances have changed," Buffy admitted. "Things aren't now as they've always been. War is upon us whether you want it not. This entire world is about to be destroyed and if I can help save it, I will."
"What about the people who have trusted you with their lives?" Siri asked. "You do not deserve their loyalty!"
Buffy shook her head. "No, I don't."
Siri looked surprised at this.
"I never wanted this," Buffy admitted. "This was her choice and I gave a dying woman comfort at knowing her people would be protected. I have spent the past twenty years protecting you. Now it's your turn."
Siri looked at her a moment before sighing. "What will become of us in the end?" she asked.
"You will go home to the land you always dreamed of," Buffy said, "and I will get my dying wish – to go out fighting."
Siri nodded slowly. "Your death," she said, as though this was most difficult, "would be devastating to us."
"Then let's make sure I get you the hell out of here before I go, okay?" Buffy asked.
"I concur," Siri replied.
"Good," Buffy said, turning to her and extending her hand. "I want my daughter by my side for one last time."
"You have never considered me as such," Siri said, looking astounded as she stared at Buffy's hand.
"I do today," Buffy said quietly, "and I will tomorrow. Of all the things I have done in this world, it is you I am most proud of."
Siri gave her a tremendous smile before leaning over and taking Buffy's hand. "It would an honor to fight at your side, my Lady," she said, bowing her head. As she lifted it, there were tears welling in her eyes. "Let us make our people proud."
"Let them always remember it was the women who defended our people."
For a moment, the two women exchanged a long look before Buffy turned and disappeared back into camp, leaving Siri alone to stand watch.
-
"Are you certain she will join us?"
Siri glanced over to see Daire standing next to her own mount, carefully threading her possessions onto the saddle, looking concerned. It had been three days since the conversation had taken place between Buffy and Siri, and it seemed to all in the camp that a truce had finally been called between them. There had not been one argument since.
"She will," Siri replied. "She wishes to see us safely out 'ere the end comes." She glanced up at the sky, which was starting to darken to the west. "She has gone before the King to inform him that she will remain behind."
Daire's face suddenly cleared as she turned to regard the forest beyond to their west. "I see," she said quietly, her voice trailing off in wonder. "I see…"
Buffy dismounted as the guards led her quickly to King Thranduil, who appeared to have been expecting her. He froze when he saw her appearance. She appeared to be wearing a long white robe, one that was customary for her people in battle. He stared at her as she pulled out her sword and tapped the tip into the ground.
"I have my decision," she said in her most confident voice. "I am to remain behind in this forest. The war will be terrible when it comes and I have always been a fighter. Well, you can't get the fight out of the girl this easily." She bowed her head as she offered her sword to him. The King looked surprised as he turned to his son, who was beaming slightly.
"I pledge my life to the Elves of this forest," she said, gesturing in a wide arc around to the beautiful forest, despite the dark clouds gathering overhead. "I will fight until the war is over, and until we win, my sword is yours."
"I… do not understand," the King finally said in his usual, calm demeanor.
"If you agree to not kill me whenever you see me, I'll fight for you," she said, sounding slightly bemused. "Otherwise… my people are leaving this morning. I'm going with them. They have a lot of work ahead of them. We plan to approach the clearing come morning, as the Orcs do not leave the trees. We are prepared to fight whatever else the darkness can throw at us, but in the end…"
"Can we be of assistance?" Legolas asked calmly.
Buffy turned to him before nodding slightly. "We could always use the help," she said, shrugging. "You have experienced bowmen and you know the forest much better than nearly half of my guards do. But…" she said, her gaze shifting to Thranduil. "I know how hard it is to defend these borders with the Elves you have now. I will not ask of your help."
The King looked relieved, but Legolas frowned slightly as he perceived what could come next.
Buffy dropped down to her knees, looking almost forlorn. "I will agree only to these terms… you will uphold your end of the agreement in ensuring that my people get safely home. My end is that I will fight the baddies for the Elves until I'm dead or else a walking shadow. Until then…" She rose and saluted him. The Elves stared at her, unaccustomed to this tradition.
"I'll see you when I return," she said, giving the King a small smile. "And I will return."
As she turned around and began to walk out of the chambers, she noticed the looks on many faces. They were still indifferent and yet… there was something different in their gazes, something she could not quite place. Maybe in time she would be able to.
From the gaps through the trees, she could see the other women arriving. She turned to quickly mount her own steed when a figure stepped out of the brambles.
She gave a small start, but turned her horse completely around when she saw Legolas standing there.
"Come to see me off?" she asked in a haughty tone as she straightened on her saddle slightly.
"I wanted to wish you luck," Legolas said, coming to rest beside her horse, which seemed to calm in his presence. His fair eyes took in the sight of the many horses now approaching them.
"I'll be back in a few days, a week tops," she said, turning to regard him. He was still staring at the forest, frowning slightly. "I'm not afraid of what's out there."
"They fear your power," he said. "They fear what you may become. The darkness knows what powers you have at your command and He will soon know you will remain there. Do not overlook the Nazgûl."
"I won't," she said, exhaling slightly as she heard the sound of a low horn ahead. "I should go."
His hand calmly stroked the animal before coming to rest atop her own. She turned to him in surprise, their eyes meeting, two fighters in a world preparing for the last war about to come before them all.
"Be safe," he said quietly.
She slowly turned her palm around so it was facing skywards, her fingers lightly moving against his. "I will," she said assuredly, finally pulling away. Legolas watched her move. As her horse joined the great lines of others moving to the south, she turned her head and their eyes met one last time. A flicker of a half-smile appeared on her face for a moment before she was taken in by the darkness of the trees.
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In the next part, the Amazons finally leave the forest.
I hope to have the next part up by week's end, but again I promise nothing. My other story will be updated this week.