I CAPTURE THE SUN
Pairings: Buffy/Legolas. I might as well point out that at this point, it will be eventual
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: T, by the new fanfiction standards. There is a little blood and gore, but that is about it. It should be suitable for anyone who has ever read Tolkien or watched the show.
Revised Summary: Buffy Summers had been given a new life and for thirty years she lived as the powerful, feared leader of a warrior clan of women… and then her friends pulled her out of Heaven. Now she lives in a world she no longer understands surrounded by people who cannot help her. Friendships will be tested and loyalties will be stretched to their limits but she will never rest until she fulfills her last promise and fights in the war she knows has come.
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. The story is currently set about five years before the start of the Fellowship. Buffy has been absent from Middle-earth for approximately five years already.
Gratitudes: This story is finally coming to an end. I really appreciate those of you who have kept up reading and reviewing this story!
Tommy14 - Thank you.
Sukera - I certainly I hope I do. Thank you for your review.
Delauro - Well, thank you. And I hope so.
Iris - It will be posted on a more regular basis as summer continues to calm down somewhat. And there will be a lot more of the Mirkwood Elf in future sections, that I do promise.
irismoon - She does sort of have an expanded role here. It isn't explained that much, but you do get the idea that she knows more than everyone else things. Thank you for your review.
Toniboo - Wish granted.
Part Summary: Siri and Daire discover the fate of their "mother". Buffy continues to unhappily exist, not knowing she's picked up an ally in her attempts to leave behind the left she's all but forgotten.
Notes: This was a chapter I intended to have out this weekend. However, I started reading a well-publicized book and completely lost track of just about everything. Once I was done reading said book, I was far too moody and negative-minded to even look at this chapter, much less edit it. There are much darker chapters coming, that I can assure you. This is the last of the real filler sections. It basically progresses the story to the point where Legolas is once again in the limelight.
x-x-x-x
Part XV
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Valley of Anduin
February 3014
An exhausted Ranger bent down to dip his hands in the clean, ice-laden waters of the River Anduin. Beside him remained his Elvish friend, silent and watchful as always. His fair eyes were trained on the mountains to the near west, and he wore a slight frown upon his face. The two had been riding southwards back towards the forest.
The winter had been all but kind. The Nazgûl were on the move again, as were the Orcs from Dol Guldur. Along with them were the Orcs from the Hithaeglir to the west. Along with Strider, Legolas was defending the westernmost border of the Mirkwood. Few Elves could be spared to ride with them, and most remained hidden in the trees should the enemy attack. What few Rangers there were left had been sent to Bree and along the Shire. Strider had decided to remove himself from the rest of his men should an attack come and perceived that intelligence about the enemy's movements would be most beneficial. War seemed to ebb closer and closer, and with that his true destiny.
"Something stirs in the west," Legolas finally said after a few moments passed. Strider lifted his head, cold water dribbling down his chin. He glanced at the Elven prince, but Legolas elaborated no further.
"You could have been more vague," Strider finally grumbled, wiping his chin and quickly getting back to his feet. Turning, he led his own tired steed to the water to allow him a drink.
"The Shadow lengthens," Legolas finally said.
Strider did not see how this was helping. Ever since the disappearance of that woman some years before, Legolas had been withdrawing into his own little cocoon of silence and subtlety. "You are still making no sense, my friend," he finally said, turning to glance at Legolas. The Elf slowly glanced at him before tipping his head towards the far horizon. "This subtlety does not suit you."
Legolas lowered his eyes before glancing away. "It matters not," he said, his tone intense. "There is one who is working against time."
"Aye," Strider replied, but he wasn't really paying attention anymore. His eyes had spotted movement at the foot of the mountains, maybe two kilometers away and drawing nearer. "Perhaps we should rethink that theory on something stirring."
Legolas glanced up, his eyes slightly alarmed as he followed Strider's keen eyes.
"What do your Elvish eyes see?" Strider finally asked, his eyes narrowed in the attempt to see into the distance.
"Two riders," Legolas replied quickly. "They come at great speed across the valley."
"Are they Orc?" Strider asked, joining his Elvish friend.
"I do not believe so," Legolas said, and his eyes darkened slightly. "They are women."
"Ah," Strider said, slipping his hand down to his sword and slipping it from its sheath. "It makes me feel that much more protected." But there was a look of great anticipation on Legolas' face. "Is it she?"
"It is not," Legolas replied after one tense moment, his demeanor slacking slightly. "But it is her kin."
"How can you tell?" Strider asked, watching as the two riders became more than specks on the horizon.
"They bear her standard," Legolas said, lifting his arm and gesturing outwards. He could see two riders in cloaks and hoods drawing nearer at a very fast pace.
"And it all makes sense," Strider muttered under his breath, watching as two horses splashed across a creek and drew ever closer. As they came nearer, Strider began to see that one of the two riders was waving a large banner. Unlike the green banner of Rohan with its white horse and the silver ship as a swan upon blue as Dol Amroth, this standard was white, but in the middle was a bronze symbol. No one quite knew for certain what the symbol was, but it appeared to be a figurine holding a small statue of sorts. Even at this distance, in the bright light, Strider could see the standard gleaming. "I assume they are certain they can tell us friend from foe," he added in an undertone to the Elf.
Legolas lifted his chin, his eyes shining slightly as he lifted his fair arm.
So much for subtlety, Strider thought to himself as he reached over and deftly pushed the arm down. "This would give them perfect cause to kill us at first sight," he said in his steady tone, working to hold down Legolas' arm.
"If they are her kin, they are surely friend, not foe," Legolas said in return before giving his human friend a small push to the side. The sounds of hooves were drawing ever nearer. "We must consider them friend."
"I will believe you if you say so," Strider said dryly, watching as two women wound their way around the rocky outcrop and paused. Less than a quarter mile away, Alwyn could sense movement and, upon closer inspection, saw two horses and an arm waving gaily in the air.
"What shall we do?" Daire asked breathlessly, drawing her mare up beside Alwyn's.
"Signal in return," Alwyn said, lifting the banner ever higher and swinging it almost dramatically. "We must not be rude. I thought your mother taught you manners."
"She taught me to swing a sword," Daire replied, almost giddy with relief as Alwyn's act was met by more pronounced waving, this time from both parties.
"Come, child," Alwyn continued, and they both moved down the rocky outcrop. When they passed into the valley, they were both extremely relieved to see an Elf and a man at the river's edge, scanning them in disbelief.
"Greetings," the man said in a cool, calm tone.
"Hello," Alwyn said, drawing her mare to a standstill. Next to her, Daire was panting as she leant over her horse, drawing deep breaths while clutching a stitch at her side. She let her eyes travel from the man to the Elf before doing a double take. What were the chances of ever finding this Elf, the one that they had needed to find, on such short notice? Surely the blessings of their ancestors were with them this day! "Are you the one they call Thranduilion?" she asked quickly, cutting off Strider, who had just opened his mouth to speak.
The man shut his mouth and threw an irritated look up at the older woman on horseback. She looked no younger than fifty, although she could have aged more. Her hair was fair and silver, but her eyes were lined and weathered beyond her years.
"I am," Legolas said quietly, taking a step forward.
"Oh, bless you," Daire said, gratefully flinging the reigns aside and leaping from her mare. "It is a relief to know that our search has not been in vain."
The man and Legolas exchanged an uncomfortable look. What had they been searching for?
But Daire continued on, lifting a hand to lower her hood and reveal herself once again to Legolas. "I am looking for my mother," she claimed.
Legolas looked stunned to see the figure standing before him. He had last seen her many, many years before. "Which one are you?" he asked quietly.
"I am named Daire," she replied softly. "Are you not Legolas of the Woodland Realm?"
"I am," the Elf said, a trace of impatience in his voice. Strider gave him a sideways glance before the Elf continued to speak. "However, I cannot tell you what you seek."
"But, surely my mother—" Daire began, just as Strider held his hand.
"Let him speak," he said calmly to the younger woman, who bristled.
"What are you saying?" Alwyn asked, sending Strider a sharp look before glancing back at Legolas.
"The woman that you seek is gone," he said, his voice even and emotionless. "She has fallen."
These words had a very serious impact on both women. Alwyn closed her eyes and glanced down while Daire stared at Legolas for a moment, her eyes searching his. After seeing that his eyes showed no deception, she fell forward onto her knees, skidding slightly in the damp grasses. Her eyes grew wide and mournful as she spied her reflection in the river. Her head bowed as she pressed a hand over her open mouth, stunned. Buffy had always been there, strong and resilient and, in their true time of need, her mother was no longer there. What folly was this?
"I am sorry," Legolas said, and it seemed to Strider that his voice carried the apology as he rested his hand upon her shoulder. "I know that you cared for her."
"What do you think?" she asked, turning around to glare at the Elf. "She was the only mother I ever knew. And she's dead?"
"It is so," Strider said, taking one look at Legolas' face. To hear it from her kin was like nailing the final peg into the coffin and it seemed to bring the truth of Buffy's disappearance to light. "We are sorry for your loss."
"She was our last hope." Both Legolas and Strider glanced up at Alwyn. The older woman was staring at the distant forest, suddenly looking far older than her fifty years. "Our people are trapped within the mountains. They need assistance. They need their leader."
"You two have ridden forward," Legolas said, realizing just how serious the situation had become. "How many ride in your camp?"
"Over a thousand," Daire said, her eyes still staring at the river. "If they have not all died."
Legolas turned and signaled to Strider, pulling the Ranger aside. "Buffy would have wanted to help her people," he said.
"But, if you remember what she told us, they were never her people," Strider replied.
"This is true," Legolas surmised. "However, I feel I owe it to her. She would have given her life for these beings. We must bring them aide."
"Your father would disagree," Strider sighed. "You know that Thranduil has lost his faith in these people since Buffy has left these woods."
"I know," Legolas said calmly. "There are few of us remaining who remember the truce we once shared. It is time we showed that there is still hope and trust amongst our people. I will call for those within the forest to bring provisions. Will you take these two to the encampment? I will return come nightfall."
"Aye," Strider replied, watching as the Elf stalked off, but not before resting his calm hand upon Daire's shoulder once again. Strider felt some of the emotion between this exchange. Legolas had truly cared for Buffy and with that came the realization that Buffy had had two daughters, one of which was grieving for her mother's death. Strider stepped forward, prepared to escort them back to their camp alongside the rocky shoals on the other side of the river. "Come," he said, bending down and gently hauling the one called Daire to her feet. "I will take you to our encampment." Seeing the doubt in both of their faces, he continued on. "You will be safe there."
"There is no safe place to hide in this world," Alwyn said, and in her lined face, Strider knew she spoke the truth. She had believed the same myth that her people had spent their lives learning. Now that she knew the bitter truth from all of the deception, she was all the wiser because of it. "We will go with you, but only ask that you send for our people."
"Legolas will do as you have asked," Strider said, watching as Daire slowly mounted her horse, wiping her eyes with her cloak as she moved. "He has gone to collect the other guards. They will not be safe in the forest, but perhaps there is another location." He paused, seeing the devastated look on Daire's face. "He is doing this for her."
She looked up and gave him a tearful smile. "How many years ago would it have been before she would have killed him dare he approach her?" she asked in a struggling tone. "I do not know how we have endured such hardships only to return and find her dead?"
"There is a reason and purpose for all," Strider said as they began making their way towards the banks. As they splashed across the narrow river, they began their short journey over the hills to the small encampment set up in the distance. Already, the two women could see Legolas making his way quickly to the tree line. "But know this," he said, and both women turned their attention back towards him. "She never became one of the nine. They never had that hold over her."
Daire smiled at the satisfaction in Strider's tone. "They never would have obtained that," she said, a hint of pride in her voice. "She had something that none of them could begin to understand. She carried love and hope and pride for her people and…" Her voice trailed off as she gazed at the last remnant of Legolas that she could see. "She had her shining knight."
x-x-x
Sunnydale
2001
It had been the same ever since she had returned to this world.
Buffy let the curtains fall, blocking her view of the bright, vibrant outside world. The birds were chirping, the neighbors were shouting, the children were laughing… it was yet another wonderful day in hell. Brushing her hair from her shoulder, she turned and began her usual morning routine. She shuffled over and pulled open her bedroom door, letting it shut quietly behind her. She made her way downstairs, hearing voices in the kitchen. There was laughter there, too. This was something new.
As she walked into the kitchen, all conversation halted abruptly. Willow, Tara and Dawn were there, as they lived in the same house. For some reason, Xander was sitting next to Dawn at the island. All four turned and managed to choke out "Good morning!" before giving one another guilty smiles. Buffy ignored them as she reached the cabinet and pulled down a glass. Turning, she poured it full of orange juice before taking the glass and walking straight out the back door.
"It's been two weeks," Dawn said, chewing on her lower lip as she watched the door click shut. "I wish I knew what to say to her."
Tara carefully avoided their gazes as she stood and began clearing away the breakfast dishes. "We need to be patient," she said quietly. "I mean, she's probably been through a lot."
"Yeah, and we don't even know what kind of hell dimension she was stuck at," Xander replied. "It could have been one of those with torture."
Tara lifted her eyes as she set a stack of plates in the sink. "Or it could have been something else completely other than hell."
There was silence behind her, and then Willow gently spoke up. "Tara, honey, do you know something?"
"No," Tara said, turning and flashing a quick smile at her girlfriend as she returned to the island. "I don't know anything… but isn't there a chance that she wasn't in hell? Is there a chance that this was just one huge mistake?"
For a moment, there was just an awkward silence about the table.
"No," Dawn said, glancing up defiantly. "There can't be any chance. I mean, she died for me. She took that jump for me. That portal killed her and sent her to hell."
If only they knew the truth, Tara thought. She leaned forward, pressing her hands together. Willow saw this and frowned slightly, puzzled by Tara's reaction. She had been oddly distant as well these past few weeks, as though only she knew what Buffy was going through. Well, she didn't. Everyone here had been through a rough time lately because of Buffy's death. Even Buffy herself should acknowledge that she wasn't perfect and just move on.
Outside in the warm sunshine, Buffy sat down and immediately drank her juice, enjoying the cool sensation in her twisted stomach. She still found it hard to eat anything, let alone act like a normal human being. She was completely stressed and even slaying had lost its normal kick. It was the perfect way to let loose, though, but it no longer had any of the merits it once held. Her destiny was once as a vampire slayer, to kill and maim all things bad, yadda yadda yadda. Now it seemed like her destiny had taken on a whole new meaning. She had been given a crown and had been asked to fight for a group of people. She had returned the crown and had pledged to fight with the same group of people. Now she wasn't there and they had been counting on her for something. She didn't know their grand plan. She had no way to hold back the darkness. But there was one person who had counted on her. And she knew she had let him down.
She tipped her head to her knees and ran her fingers through her hair in frustration. They had no idea that this was killing her, the pressure of trying to be someone she wasn't anymore. They didn't know that thirty years in a different world changes somebody, and she was definitely changed for the better. She had raised two girls, hadn't she? She had trained hundreds of women to fight in this army, didn't she? And she had made a pact with what she had once considered to be her greatest enemy… now that was a feat in itself. But, unfortunately, she felt as though she had let herself down the most. She half-wondered about Siri and Daire and the rest of their people. She knew that they were in danger. She dreamt every night of them, seeing their cold fates drawn out as though on a map, decidedly plucked one by one from the world they had desperately believed could be a better place. She only wished she could have been there to see them partake in the days of peace.
She let out a low groan of frustration and threw her head back, her eyes catching the sunlight. This wasn't helping. Maybe the time had come to get the hell out of Sunnydale for awhile. Angel was still waiting for her call. Apparently, he kept calling on a daily basis, asking where she was and why she hadn't contacted him. Her friends kept saying that she wasn't ready. Well, she was ready. She'd had over thirty years to get over him. And, in her loneliness, she only thought of the one person who had caught her when she'd fallen. Then her thoughts turned back to finding a way to return to him without risking so many lives…
"This is useless!" she cried, slapping her hand on the stair. Behind her, she heard the door click shut and glanced over her shoulder to see Dawn.
"Sorry," she said, walking meekly forward before setting her school bag down. "I was just hoping that we could talk."
"There's nothing to say," Buffy said, withdrawing into herself and glancing away.
"Buffy, this isn't you," Dawn said, her tone pleading. "I wish that things could have been better, I really do. But I need you now, more than ever."
"Which one of them sent you?" she asked.
Dawn bit her lip to keep herself from crying. This wasn't her sister. This couldn't be. "They didn't," she sniffled. "I wanted to come. Things have been bad lately, Buffy, but…"
"You think they get better?" Buffy asked, her tone muffled; she had just drawn her hands to her face and had buried it again.
"I just want to know how I can help," Dawn pleaded. "Please, let me help you. I don't know what you've been through, but I want to know. That's the only way that you can—"
"You can't," Buffy said in a low voice. "There's no way you can begin to understand what I've been through."
"If you would just talk to me…"
"And say what?" Buffy demanded, turning around to glance at her. "Say that I appreciate being pulled out of hell? Did you want me to say that I really like being back? I… I can't."
Dawn's face fell as she bent down and scooped her bag onto her shoulder. "Forget it," she mumbled. "Forget I even tried. Forget I even care!"
"Dawn, you don't understand," Buffy said, watching her sister stalk off in a fit of temper. "Even the very young don't always do as they're told."
Dawn froze and turned slowly to gaze at her sister. When she saw her standing there, she saw a different version of her sister, older and more mature. "What?" she breathed.
"It's a saying that I learned," Buffy replied simply, walking over to face her sister. "It means that you have a lot to learn before you can pretend to know what you know you don't."
Dawn was beginning to feel even more astounded. Since when had her sister carried this much wisdom?
"Someday you will know," she said, patting Dawn's arm lightly. "I only wish I could show you."
Turning, she walked away, leaving Dawn to her very confused thoughts.
x-x-x
Valley of Anduin
3014
Siri felt a small sigh of relief escape her lips as she rode into the Anduin valley, watching as a long stream of tents and fires had been pitched since the first of her people started crossing the great river that morning at dawn.
The Elves had come through for them. Siri hadn't exactly been surprised. In the past few years, all of her opinions of the Elves had changed.
She found herself gazing at all of the guards taking the night watch. It wasn't until she heard a familiar shriek did she allow herself to smile. "Daire!" she called, dismounting her steed and running to embrace her cousin. Daire clung to her for a moment before pulling back, her face and tone melancholy.
"Siri," she said, her tone mournful, though she attempted to smile through her tears. "It is good to see you… and…" Her eyebrows lifted in surprise as she surveyed Siri's rounded stomach. "You carry?"
"Indeed," came the calm tone of Legolas from behind Siri. "Your leader is with child."
"This is wonderful," Daire said, her face breaking out into its first true smile. And then the knowledge that her mother was dead fell back onto her shoulders and she looked down. "They have told you of Buffy?"
"No, they have not," Siri said, turning to glance at Legolas as he moved away, carrying a crate containing lembas bread and other fruits which had been sustaining these people for the past few months as they trekked across the mountains. "What tidings have you?"
"She is dead," Daire said, her tone very small.
Siri felt her eyes close as she turned to look at Legolas, who met her gaze straight away. She felt her chin tremble as she took a step towards him. At that exact moment, she felt something jump in her abdomen and withdrew her hands to her bulging stomach. "Why did he not tell me?"
"He knows that the tidings would not be good for your child," Daire said, looking even younger as she glanced fearfully at Siri, who was known to have a great temper when fired.
"I counted on him to protect her," she said quietly, so only Daire could hear. "I trusted him. I never trusted an Elf before in my life and now…" She looked away, but when she lifted her eyes, she was seeing red. "You…"
"Please do not endanger your child, Siri," Daire said, sounding quite alarmed.
"It matters not," Siri said, her infamous temper flaring. She could feel Jarron coming up behind her, but threw her arm out to block his reassuring grasp. "I trusted you…"
And yet his gaze never wavered. "This was her choice," he said simply.
"You lie," she hissed, her tone breaking as cold fury sustained her sheer exhaustion. "I trusted you to protect her!"
"She was more than capable of protecting herself," Mauve said, coming up next to Jarron. "Please, Siri, you must get rest."
"No," Siri snapped in a voice halfway between a sob and a snarl. "She was not supposed to die! She was going to save us!"
"She gave that power to you," one of the Elvish guards said, rising from where he was tending to a fire.
"She cared more for you than you will ever know," a second guard replied, blinking at her.
Siri shook her head. All sense of logical thought seemed to have escaped her person at the moment. "No," she said bitterly, waving the others away from her. "No. She loved you more than she cared for us, and she's a human being."
"Siri, just listen to yourself," her cousin pleaded. "Do you not understand what you are saying?"
"I would rather you died then have my mother submit herself to you," she spat at Legolas, who looked taken aback by her rage. "You may be a higher being with some greater purpose, but we were her children. I let you fool me into thinking you are some grand being I should respect. I was mistaken."
Legolas glanced at the other guards, many who had returned to their chores, looking politely unconcerned. But he knew better. "She cared for you enough to let you live the life you had wanted," he replied gently, stepping close to Siri and reaching for her arm. When she jerked it from his grasp, he reached forward and took her arm with a bruising grip.
"What do you think… you are hurting me… what are you…?" she spluttered as the Elf dragged her through the crowd of curious faces. Mauve, who had been privileged to such things before, quickly dispersed the crowd. "Who do you think you are, Thranduilion? You cannot fool me, you coward. I—" But her words were cut off as he pressed his fair hand over her mouth.
"To be a great leader as your mother, you must listen. It was something that over time she was able to learn to do," he said, removing his hand and breaking eye contact, her withering glare sharp on his features.
"I will." Her teeth were gritted and she could feel the cold fury surging within her, but also there was a desire to know why this so-called higher being had betrayed her foster mother.
"Buffy made a promise to my father ere she died," he said quietly, turning his back to her. "But she is now gone and her promise remains bitter amongst those closest to Thranduil. There are few left who believe that such an alliance is still possible. Your old ways are gone, Siri, and they will not return. War is upon us, open war. You and your people are not safe here."
"We are safer here than we were over the mountains," she said in a struggling voice. "Our people do not exist."
"On the contrary," a different voice spoke as Strider walked smoothly into their private area. "Your people do exist. They are here, now. I may not be of your village, but we are all connected from the beginning."
"You speak words of wisdom," Siri said, tilting her head as she considered him. "But, tell me, Ranger… do your words comfort the children whose mothers and fathers were killed trying to protect us?"
Strider silently shook his head.
"You have led your people far," Legolas said, frowning slightly, "but we cannot protect your people."
"I did not ask for your protection," Siri sneered. "That was my cousin."
"What my friend is attempting to convey," Strider said slowly after exchanging a long look with Legolas, "is that things have changed since you last crossed these borders."
"War… war, there is always another war, there are always battles and death and fighting," Siri said, laughing as she spun in a circle before turning on both men. She stopped, her laughter dying in her throat as she lifted her hand to wipe the tears from her eyes. "I…"
"We understand," Strider said in a comforting tone. "We have led our own for many years. We know the pain and the bitterness and every last disappointment. You carry the weight of the world upon your shoulders. There are few who are able anymore. And I, too, have recently lost my mother."
"Buffy was not my real mother," Siri replied. "My real mother died so long ago… it is so hard to remember her that at times, I just forget. I kept thinking my mother was so strong and so brave, but she was not. She was a leader, but she never led. She never took up arms. She never once thought that fighting would accomplish anything other than death. And the thought of freedom confused her. But Buffy… I was still a child when she took over my care. The first act I remember she ever did was take up arms against thieves. She learned that ridiculous song so that my cousin and I would not remain frightened by the darkness. Sometimes I wish that she had been my mother."
"In your eyes, she is," Legolas replied with a slight smile. "She is a hero to many amongst us here."
"Elves are peculiar creatures," Siri said, her nose wrinkling at Strider's maddening smirk as they both teased the tall, golden-haired Elf. "Buffy's word must have meant a lot to you. You must have cared for her."
Legolas didn't say anything, but the look on Strider's face gave it all away. "She meant much to all of us," Strider finally said.
Siri straightened herself, her hands folding over her rounded belly. "Whatever accord you had set was between your father and her," Siri replied. "But my mother believed that peace was a far higher goal than fighting two or three enemies at once. I have seen our ancestral kin and they too fight against men. Against us. We will never have peace as long as there is war between us. Buffy offered her life for our freedom. As she is now dead and we have come to realize that we have always been free, there is much more at stake than our petty prides."
"You speak like a queen," Strider said, smiling gently at her.
She gave him a grateful look, but met Legolas' eyes. He looked as though he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Whatever comes to pass, know this Thranduilion. Your father counted on my mother to fight at your side. But she alone was one. I bring with me hundreds, nearly a thousand. Will my mother's promise be maintained if I were to take her place and fight in her stead by your side?"
Legolas gave her the faintest smile while Strider nodded solemnly. Then, he started to laugh. It sounded like the most pleasant music, ringing through the plains and turning heads.
"I do not find my speeches amusing," Siri said, bristling.
"Your speech is not amusing," Legolas said, composing himself. "But, for a moment, I thought you were your mother."
Siri smiled. It was a very different smile than the one Legolas had remembered. Then again, he had never seen this girl smile. But, as he saw her husband and two small boys approach, she was a woman now, with her own growing family. "Do we have an agreement?" she asked lightly.
Legolas nodded firmly. "We do," he replied fairly. "It will be most gratifying to fight alongside her kin to the end of days."
"I was thinking the same thing," Siri said, frowning slightly.
"There is one deed we can do for you," Legolas replied. "I will send word to my father of your return. Hopefully the bitterness of the last alliance will not stand to break apart what fragile ground we have built upon today. We will give you shelter and provide provisions as long as you see fit. In return, when the battle comes to Mirkwood…"
"We will be prepared," Siri said, lifting her chin proudly. "We are well trained and there are no longer just women in our numbers. We have taken all we could from the dreadful lands of our forefathers…" Her face fell as her memories recounted the bitter meetings. "Buffy taught me all I needed to know." Siri turned just as a small boy ran to her waist and clung to her legs, looking up at her with adoring dark eyes. "Come now," she said, taking her son's hand and pulling him off of her body. "Let us leave the men to plan their war. We have better things to attend to."
Daire was waiting by where the women were placing large white tents in a circle around the paddock of horses. She looked fearful as Siri returned, Jarron at her side with her youngest son in his arms. "Do not blame me for my choices, Siri," she said quietly.
"Do not fear," Siri replied, giving Daire a gentle smile. "I chose to listen to his words and for once they make sense." She paused before taking Daire's arm and pulling her aside. "Do you remember what we discussed before we crossed into Hithaeglir once again?"
Daire gave her a startled look. "My lady?"
"It is time," Siri smiled, letting go of her cousin. "It is time to prove that we are not as weak as our kin have spoken. It is time to become what we were born to be. This is our destiny. Our time has come."
x-x-x
Sunnydale
2001
They really didn't understand.
It was almost shocking to see their gullible faces, so eager to believe what they wanted to. But it was hard to watch the Slayer go through the motions as though living an ordinary life. She should never have been brought back. Had she known the extent to what had happened, she never would have allowed it.
Her friends could sit there and judge her by her slow reactions. But Tara knew better. She had felt it when Buffy had returned to the house. And for the past few weeks, she could feel it waning, as though slipping away. Buffy had been gone for only five months in their calendar. But she knew it was a lot longer where Buffy had been.
So when Tara found Buffy packing her vehicle, she seemed hardly surprised.
"Oh," Buffy said, slamming the hood door of her mother's old Jeep. "I'm sorry… were you…?"
"You're sneaking away," Tara said, but she was smiling.
"Well, yeah," Buffy replied, looking uncomfortable. "I mean, Xan's at work, Willow and Dawn are both at school and you…"
"Not supposed to be here, I know," Tara said quietly. "But where will you go?"
"Anywhere," Buffy replied fervently. "I just need a break, you know? It's been bad enough with everyone pretending to care what happened to me. It'd be so hard to tell them that I wasn't where they thought I was."
"In other words, not hell," Tara stated.
"Exactly," Buffy murmured, glancing around her as she slowly made her way to the driver's door. "Look, I'm not going to pretend you understand…"
"I understand perfectly," Tara replied with her soft smile. Buffy blinked up at her, obviously confused.
"If you understood that, then you'd know why I'm not acting all grateful because I was pulled out of a world I really liked being in. I was there for years, Tara. Thirty years."
Tara's eyes widened at this information. This, she did not know.
"I got over losing you guys a long time ago. And trust me, there were a lot of distractions." Turning, she pried open the door and shoved her bag inside.
"Tell me."
Buffy glanced at Tara in surprise, one leg inside of the vehicle. "Do you really want to know?"
"Yes," Tara replied, smiling again as she gently nudged the door shut, the stunned Slayer standing on the other side, looking awestruck. "You were my friend once. I thought maybe you would have remembered that you can trust me with anything."
"I do… I mean, remember," she said hastily, leaning against the Jeep. "But where do I begin?"
"You could start at the beginning," Tara gently urged.
"I could," Buffy said, wrinkling her nose. "But that's basically when the pointy ends of the sword were pointed in my direction."
"How did it change?"
"Change?"
"Didn't you just say it wasn't hell? It must have gotten better from there."
"Oh, yeah… well, see… it started out with this kidnapping plot these evil pointy-ears were doing to this nice young Prince…"
Los Angeles
2001
Sixteen Hours Later
It had been a long and trying day. Angel Investigations was most keen to forget that anything had happened, but when wiping the turquoise-colored blood from their axes and swords, they were painfully reminded of their first apocalypse-like event since returning from Lorne's home world. Even the early dawn light couldn't have prepared them for what they had faced.
"I despise those larval things," Cordelia Chase grumbled as she scrubbed a rather nasty stain from the end of her curved sword.
"Just imagine how bad it could have been had they been fully grown," Wesley pointed out from behind her, hanging their long weapons in the chest.
Cordelia gave a small shudder as she handed her sword back to Wesley.
"All those teeth," Fred whimpered, hugging herself as she sat gingerly in one of the chairs behind the counter.
"I was more worried about those spikes," Charles Gunn said, grinning as he swung his battle axe with a flourish. "But I'm glad we got to their nest before they spread."
"Indeed," Wesley said, snapping the lock on the chest shut before turning to watch as Angel paced in the entry hallway. He suppressed a sigh as he watched Angel move back and forth, his facial expressions becoming more pronounced and broody. Wesley knew that while they were occupied with a case, or, in this instance, a nest of baby Sandarac demons, Angel was part of the team. But when they reverted back to the post-battle atmosphere, Angel seemed to just revert back to his old brooding self. And it didn't help that his Slayer had yet to make contact with him, despite being back for more than two weeks. He gave Cordelia a quick glance and thankfully she took it into stride. Moving towards Angel, she began talking in her usual, cheery voice.
"Why don't you sit down and we'll make you a nice, warm cup of—"
"Buffy?"
"Eww, not," Cordelia said, giving Angel a disgusted look. But, judging by the expressions on the rest of the team, they were all focused on someone standing over her left shoulder. Turning, she saw the small blonde standing in the doorway, pulling the hotel door closed behind her.
"Buffy," Cordelia said, watching as the Slayer stopped moving. But something wasn't right. Instead of seeing a self-assured, confident woman, she saw a troubled woman with messy hair. She was looking uncertain, even timid. "Are you okay?"
Buffy shook her head slightly. "No, I'm not," she quietly intoned as she glanced at each member of Angel's team before her gaze returned back to Cordelia. "You help the helpless, right?"
"It's the motto," Gunn said from his position.
"Well, then," she said, glancing down before looking up, as though steeling herself to make some stunning revelation. "I need your help."
x-x-x-x
In the next part, Buffy has a few confessions to make, as do others.