I CAPTURE THE SUN
Pairings: Buffy/Legolas. Finally.
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. If blood and gore bother you, this should still be all right to read.
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.
Gratitudes: To everyone that has supported this story, thank you. To those of you who have read, you have my eternal gratitude. This is the last time I will post reviewer responses as now we have the option to respond if you request so.
XinnLajgin- Thank you! I hope you liked the explanations... then again, how exactly would one explain magical transfers through dimensions to Elves? Or humans?
General Mac - Just one more to go... sorry!
Toniboo- I am glad you enjoyed it.
Lady Katanya - Thank you!
Tigerfanfry- I am glad you liked what you re-read so far. I have not done that in a while. All I can say is... I created a monster.
afstandsbedieninglol - I have no idea what your handle is. But it is kind of cute. :) Yes, Buffy missed the Fellowship. There are too many stories out there where Buffy happily trounces along. I wanted to go against the normal.
Part Summary: Buffy makes the journey to Minas Tirith to find her other daughter… for those of you who have been waiting for an actual pairing, your wait is over.
Notes: It has been over a month since my last update. Real life has just gotten to the point where finals are upcoming, my family is growing and time online is very limited. Luckily, this story is nearly over. It is completely written, but I have been rewriting parts because there were just some things that were not working for me. This is a bittersweet impasse for me, because this story is now nearly over. It has been one hell of a journey, to say the least. Here we are at the penultimate…
x-x-x-x
Part XIX
x-x-x-x
"You… you were dead."
Buffy still hadn't thought about what she would tell them. She couldn't explain being ripped from this world and torn away from the world she had known longer than she had known her California life. How did one explain the technological adequacy that her former life had been? Cellular phones were bad enough, but high definition television? How in the hell was she supposed to explain where she'd been? Her cover story was she had been captured by Mordor, refused to capitulate and eventually was released upon Sauron's fall. It didn't make much sense to her because that torture would likely have altered her forever, but this was something completely different. She had been taken all the way back to Sunnydale and through Tara's extraordinary magic was she able to come back at all. Fortunately. Some others might consider her return to this world to be a miracle, but for Buffy it was both bittersweet and relieving. She was relieved that she was home. She had known this land longer than California, after all. It was also bittersweet because, for the first time, she felt as though she'd left someone behind.
"I wasn't dead," she managed to get out, glancing up at Alwyn. It was her first day back in the remnants of their village. The shadow that had been looming over her shoulders like a giant weight was finally gone and she felt she could breathe free air again. But with her recovery there were also many questions looming: where she had been and why she had abandoned them seemed to be the two most popular inquiries. She just wished she had the answers. "I mean… I'm already dead. You can't die twice when you're already dead."
"If you were not dead, why then did you disappear in our darkest hour?" Alwyn pressed her.
Buffy paused, considering this. Sure, the captured and tortured theory worked well, but she didn't feel like lying anymore. She decided to go with the truth. "I didn't have a choice, Alwyn," Buffy replied gently. "I couldn't get back here, no matter how much I wanted to."
"We thought you had abandoned us," Alwyn replied stoically.
"I wouldn't abandon you if I had a choice," Buffy insisted. "I'm not like that. When I made that promise to your former leader, I told her I would never abandon you. Siri watched over you."
"She is gone now, departed for the Halls with her forefathers," Alwyn said, her head drooping slightly. "We are alone."
"You're not alone," Buffy smiled, patting Alwyn on the shoulder. "Did you hear that the guys in the east Lake Town are going to take you in? They will be so happy to see you."
"Who will lead us?" Alwyn asked in a small tone. "I am aging quickly and my health will soon falter. There are few left from your time who could lead us."
"Jarron said that Siri sent Daire south, right?" Buffy asked slowly.
"Yes," Alwyn admitted. "Daire and Mauve were asked to go to the south to serve Gondor. It would be miraculous if they lived still, for what we have heard from the south is grave news indeed! We have heard nothing of their fate."
Buffy sat and thought for a moment before replying, "The Elves have asked that I go south to meet with them. I will find out what I can and, when I can, I'll meet you in the eastern town. If I find out that she's still alive, I'll go and get her and I'll bring her home. Daire is your leader now. She is the last surviving member of the royal family and should hold the crown until Siri's son is old enough to take it. I would much rather have a woman to lead us. I don't know if I can trust a man to do it as well."
"You find strength in women, more than men?" Alwyn asked, tilting her head as she considered her former leader's words.
"I think women are different than men," Buffy replied carefully. "I think men have the power to be great, yeah. But women… they feel more. I think they know more. They can learn and they listen better. I wouldn't want everything that I built to be in the hands of a male. I just don't. I think I'm allowed to think that, after all I have been through."
"You have been through much, lady," Alwyn whispered. "Though you were not trusted in the beginning, many fell into line. The men were the last."
"Not only do I not trust their leadership roles," Buffy teased, "but they just… we don't get along very well."
"What of the Woodland Prince?" Alwyn teased back. "He seemed to have been taken by you."
"I've been gone for years," Buffy said, feeling a sudden overwhelming sense of sadness strike her. "I would be amazed if he remembered me."
"He remembered you before he left for Rivendell," Alwyn confessed. "He honored your memory by allowing our people passage in his future realm. He cared for you enough to care for your daughters even though they had been so dreadful to him in the past. Do not think for one moment that he has forgotten this friendship. If you had remained, your bond would have solidified and you would have gone on this journey with him. You have known him for many years, my lady. I cannot begin to understand what he felt for you, but it was real and it was tangible and it was beautiful. You will find him, lady. And you will see that what you feel was not mistaken."
Buffy was gazing at Alwyn with softening eyes. "I've missed you, Allie. I've missed that compassion and that wisdom… damn, I've missed you."
"Where you have been must have been a dark place, but there was always a beacon of hope, was there not?"
"There's always hope," Buffy said in a small voice.
"There always will be hope," Alwyn replied. "We are stronger now. You will see it. You will see. We have done everything in our power to honor your memory by strengthening our borders and solidifying our alliances."
"Thank you," Buffy said, leaning over and hugging her former guard. "It's nice to know I made a difference."
"You have not even started yet," Alwyn said, her smile growing. "There is much for you to do and to be. Your life will be beautiful because of what you have done and what you have endured. There is good in this world and you fight for it. You have died for it. That alone makes you beautiful. That alone makes you special. That alone makes you a queen."
"You should go," Buffy said, feeling amused. This heartwarming 'I-love-you' talk was starting to grate on her nerves. So, she did some good stuff and apparently people remember it. Oh, these people were different from the ones she knew and loved. The stakes were much higher. The cost was much greater. And the drama never seemed to end. "I'll see you soon."
Even looking at this conversation days later during her long ride to the south, she could hardly believe this fortune. After weeks of battling back and forth, the good guys had prevailed. She had only gotten there at the end, but apparently it was a hell of a time for her to drop in. She continued to find that her re-emergence in this world was seen as a miracle by some and yet simply beguiling to others. And yet, in the presence of the Elves, they were either too mystified or polite to say anything.
It was hard to believe that a two day journey could bring about this type of change. There was her people, who were thrilled at having their former leader back when their current one had died fighting. And then there were the Elves, who seemed indifferent, unflappable and yet… perfect. Buffy used to think that Elves were perfection incarnate, as though insults, time and trifles just rolled off of their melancholy selves. They tended to meddle and yet they didn't seem to get involved. In all, Buffy found them mysterious. She used to despise them until she got to know them. They had a dark, dark history… one she wouldn't fathom being a part of. But she was involved, now. She had made the promise that she would stand by them because that was who she was. She never realized that by saying she would return she would face an eternity of these beings. Perhaps it was wisest she was on friendlier terms with some of them.
Four Elvish guards were awaiting her in the clearing north of the remains of the former dark fortress. They acknowledged her by inclining their heads as she paused before them. "A welcoming committee all for me?" she asked, feigning surprise.
"We never believed you would come, lady," one spoke quietly.
"You didn't think I'd show up for a party?" she asked in disbelief as she dismounted her horse and began to walk it alongside the others. "I think I'm offended… you don't know me at all."
"We know of you, and for us that is more than enough," a second guard said. Buffy thought she caught a passing smirk exchanged between the other two.
"I know you, don't I?" she asked, giving the others a dry look. "I mean, you look familiar."
"We are guards of King Thranduil," one of the two replied, giving her a quick, searching look. "Though from tidings as glad as your arrival, we never expected to see you again."
"Oh," Buffy said, frowning as she continued to walk, doubling her pace to keep up with their longer legs. "So basically you're telling me I surprised you."
"In as few words, yes,"
"Thought so," Buffy quipped, continuing to keep pace with her, though it seemed they kept speeding up. "So… we're going south."
"Lady Galadriel wishes to speak with you," the first guard informed her. "She believes you would benefit greatly were you to journey south."
"To Gondor," Buffy surmised.
"To Gondor."
"I don't suppose you know what happened to my girls," Buffy asked curiously as they finally reached the edge of the former lair.
"I would assume that your girls were sent to Gondor."
"To Gondor," Buffy repeated again, smirking slightly. "Yes… apparently they decided that a few hundred bowmen were somewhat spare-able. I wouldn't have made the same decision, but-"
"The decision was made by the leader of a fallen people," one of the Elves said quietly. "You would have made that decision to strengthen the bonds of an alliance."
Buffy was slightly taken aback as she pondered his words. "Maybe you're right," she sighed. "Maybe I would have done something like that in order to preserve an alliance. But I would have made that decision if I knew my flank was secured."
"Your people had the full acknowledgement of ours behind that decision," the Elf replied, a hard edge to his tone as he glanced at her unwaveringly through those azure eyes. "They did not have your counsel on that appropriation."
"Thanks for reminding me," Buffy said archly. "The last thing I needed to be reminded of was the years of torture I endured at the hands of your enemy while my people as well as you Elves suffered."
The Elves paused as she continued on, unchecked, into the old dark grounds. Even with the walls and towers cast down and burned, the air still smelled of rotting corpses. She slowly released her horse and walked in a circle around the old watch tower, feeling as though everything she had been counting on was indeed falling apart. Folding her arms, she continued to avoid contact with the fairer beings, though they seemed to wish to converse further. She had no desire to hear whatever they had to say and finally came to rest in front of an old statue. Though the dark crown had been thrown off and the great eye on top scrubbed clean, there was still a distinct darkness that seemed to draw her nearer. Though every last trace of shadow had been dissolved from her, she still carried her past sins and old thoughts with her. As she reached up to touch the hideous troll's face, she heard a soft voice call her from behind.
Turning and withdrawing her hand, she spied a single figure riding up to her, glowing faintly from atop a pale steed.
"Hello," she said, crossing her arms as she greeted this new Elf. This one was tall and fair, with a long cloak. As soon as he had ridden in, all of the other Elves had bowed their heads respectively towards him. He was obviously one of some power and influence, but she didn't know who. She knew a few of the Elves from Lothlórien, and a few more still from Rivendell, but this one was utterly unfamiliar to her. "I don't know you."
The Elven lord seemed to take her blunt recognition kindly. He bowed his head to her and spoke in a soft, fluidic tone. "Yet you are known to us, Lady of the Shadow!"
She winced as she glanced away. "I was hoping to get away from that ridiculous nickname," she admitted.
"Perhaps you shall be called Lady of Light, or Lady of Sorrow from the look upon your face," the Elf said, moving nearer to her as he examined the numerous lesions still marring her golden skin. "What concerns you, dear lady? Is it this realm, which you have broken free from at last? Or is it perhaps your escorts? I would agree that sending the guardians of Thranduilion was perhaps not the wisest choice."
"No, they're okay. I'm just not too keen on those that I don't know." She sent him a sharp, scrutinizing look he took into complete stride. "Who are you?"
"Your forgiveness, my lady… I forget that you have departed for lands unknown for many years," he said, bowing his head towards her.
"I would call being stuck in hell a really big plus on the side of unknown," she retorted, her gaze sharpening into a glare. "Who are you?" she repeated.
"My name is unimportant to you, lady," the Elf lord replied, holding his arm in a sweeping gesture towards the darkness. "Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn await you."
"It's nice someone finally told me," she murmured darkly as she allowed this new Elf to escort her into the darkness. They had only passed through a small thicket of trees before she found herself in another clearing. This one felt more… rich, somehow. There was a soft silvery glow from two beings near the edge of the clearing and both turned to face her. They were surrounded by their own guards, but she could tell that these two were the ones she had been waiting to finally meet. Their glow seemed to cast out the combined glow of the dozens of guards now finding the forest far more interesting than facing a former enemy of the Elves.
"Thank you, Haldir," the Lady Galadriel said, smiling softly towards the Elf hovering over Buffy's shoulder.
She turned and cast a long look at the overprotective Elf, but he soon nodded and meandered back in the direction of the former Dark realm. Sighing, she turned to face the Elven pair and bowed her own head. "I'm glad to finally meet you," she said, attempting a warm, welcoming smile. But she feared all that came to her face was a pained grimace.
"We understand your hostilities towards us," the male Elf spoke, quietly approaching the young woman. "You are far smaller than we would have expected."
"What did you expect?" Buffy asked sharply. "A troll? A dragon? Something with lots of teeth and more bite than bark?"
"My lady, we wish not to offend you," Galadriel replied serenely. "We have received word that we will soon travel southbound and wish you to take this journey with us. This may bring you tidings of your daughter to the south. The loss of one child is not easy for any mother to bear…" Her voice trailed off and trembled ever so slightly. "I could not imagine any mother to lose a second."
Buffy swallowed hard, not even wanting to imagine how hard it would be to lose both Siri and Daire. Daire had to be alive. She just had to be!
"Lord Elrond of Rivendell will meet us at Lothlórien," Lord Celeborn continued, glancing at his wife who had lifted her chin defiantly against such negative thoughts. "King Thranduil has insisted to meet with you ere we leave the Mirkwood." He smiled softly at her amazed expression. "He believes that you have made through on your word, lady. You have granted your people a great honor, even through your disappearance and reappearance."
Buffy knew that they had reached the point where she would launch into another boring explanation about where she had been. But she had no intentions of telling them anything just yet. She still wanted to know why King Thranduil was playing nice. Luckily for her, Celeborn seemed to sense her confusion and desire to learn more.
"King Thranduil wishes for one last favor from you," he continued, smiling as her eyes lifted to meet his. "He wishes for you to bring tidings of his son."
"Legolas," she breathed. Didn't Elves have some sort of sonar or something that would enable them to figure these things out on their own? "There has been no tidings from Gondor on him?" she questioned.
"There have been no tidings of any sort aside from one," Lady Galadriel spoke up. "We know that a King has returned to the throne of Gondor."
"Strider?" Buffy asked in surprise, a hint of laughter in her voice. Glancing from Elven lord to lady, she knew it to be true. "Oh," she whispered. "That's great news… really great news."
"We knew these tidings would be pleasing," Lady Galadriel said, a light dancing in her eyes. "You knew him before the start of the war, did you not?"
"Of course I knew him!" Buffy exclaimed. "He saved my life once. I still haven't repaid that debt."
"Oh, this debt has been repaid," Celeborn said, watching Buffy's eyes widen at this news. "When your daughter Siri sent Daire and her army to the south, that debt was erased ten-fold. There was little hope, if any, for such a victory. And yet the victory we have been awaiting for so many years has come to pass."
"To be honest, I never thought that a victory was possible," Buffy admitted. "You've faced odds that not an army the size of Earth could beat."
"What do you know of our past?" Lady Galadriel asked curiously.
"I know enough to know that it wasn't bright," Buffy replied. "I know that there have been great wars fought with the Elves in the beginning and with men in the recent past. I don't know a lot about my history, but your history is some of the most fascinating—"
"We would perhaps not call it 'fascinating'," Celeborn said lightly. "But you do know much of what has happened in the past, for you know of the great wars with the Elves of the past. Before the great land of Númenor was brought forth, great legions of men supports Elvish realms of the past. You may know, all too well, of the greed of men. It is perhaps this more than any other reason why wars in the past have been fought."
"For greed?" Buffy asked, confused.
"For greed of power," Galadriel corrected. "We all wish to control that which we cannot. We all wish for power we could never grasp. There are those of us who have seen countless ages pass with the mistakes of those who hold on to such disastrous notions. And there are those, like yourself, who call upon the past mistakes of others to influence a future that may never come."
"But the future is here now," Buffy said, her voice rising. "There is a future now, with Aragorn as the King of Gondor and allies like you guys… how could he go wrong?"
"Gondor's fate has not yet been sealed," Celeborn replied. "There has been a return of a King, yes… but there are great trials ahead and all must work together to ensure a peaceful existence between the many races."
"I will assure you now," Buffy replied in a cool tone, "that I have not passed through death and fire to fail you now. I will do what I can to preserve what future there is left."
"We are not immortal in battle," Galadriel surmised. "You have a power beyond many that walk this earth. Where you have returned from no longer matters to those who care for you as King Thranduil does. You question the reason why he would ask for your assistance in locating his son. He believes that prior to your departure, you had a bond with Thranduilion. We trust that you will do what is necessary for any future, but our concern is for your future."
"My future is with my people," Buffy sighed. "In case you didn't notice, they don't have someone running the show. And I'm not about to ask Jarron to step up… not if Daire is still alive."
"What you seek is not to move back," Celeborn replied. "You forget that my lady has the gift of foresight."
"Then what have you seen?" Buffy asked, turning to Galadriel with interest. "Can you tell me?"
"There is a future for you, but one that comes with the truth," Galadriel replied, her cool blue gaze meeting hazel. "You may not be ready to tell the others where your journey has led you, but the truth will set you free. The future for you as it stands is quite uncertain. There are many paths to follow, but only one will lead you to your gift."
"Now those are words I've heard before," Buffy said bitterly. "Are you telling me again that death is my gift?"
"Death was your gift," Galadriel concluded, smiling. Buffy, realizing what she meant, sighed. "This new gift is life. You have so much to accomplish here and where to begin? You returned to a world that was not ready for you… but as you can see, it needs you now, more than ever."
"Okay, I get it," Buffy said, waving her hand impatiently. "I really do. I can't die anymore so basically my gift to this world is life."
"Partially," Galadriel said, watching as her Marchwarden returned with two fair steeds for his lord and lady to ride upon. "When you see what the world has become through your own eyes, you will understand your place. This is a promise I make to you, dear lady." She gently reached out to stroke the golden mane of her beautiful white horse. "We should hasten."
Buffy turned around as her own horse was brought forth by a host of guards from the Mirkwood. "I think I'm lost," she whispered under her breath. Every single conversation with these beings ended up spinning her in circles and none of the good variety, she thought with a sigh. Slowly, she mounted her steed and turned to face the Elves lining up to move out of the woods. She watched as her own security soon surrounded her, casting her aloof yet respectful smiles. At least she had the best protection she could afford to buy.
"Ride with me," Galadriel said, beckoning Buffy to join her. Buffy pushed her horse forward a few paces to join the Elven queen. "As we have a long journey ahead of us, if you wish to tell the tale of your return to this world, I would rather enjoy the story."
Buffy took a deep breath as she tried to figure out what the hell to tell her. She had a feeling that Galadriel would see through any trapped in hell story, so Buffy knew that the truth would really set her free. "All right," she said slowly, building up her nerve to tell an Elven queen about a witch's magic and a really loyal friend. "It all started in the woods a few years ago. I was chasing that hideous Gollum…"
x-x-x
As it turned out, their journey was much longer than Buffy could have imagined. After they had made the short journey to Lothlórien, they had met up with Lord Elrond from Rivendell as well as his rather lengthy escort. After another round of introductions had been made, they all gathered their full numbers and began the journey south towards Gondor. Buffy, for the most part, enjoyed the silence of the journey. However, many from the west were unaccustomed to seeing a human female traveling with such high beings and most were curious as to why she had been chosen to ride with the highest of Elvish royalty. The first person to question her, surprisingly, was Lord Elrond.
At first, Buffy looked at his face and could place him from somewhere in her world. Though he rode with the best of intentions, there was a darkness about him that Buffy could visibly see. His eyes were averted at his daughter's pleasant conversation behind him and Buffy knew she could read the pain there. It was the guilt of making the decision to leave someone behind. She had just abandoned Dawn to her world. Now it was time for this Elf-lord to do the same.
"You are the fabled Lady of Shadow?" he asked her as they continued to ride alongside the river Anduin.
"I was," Buffy admitted. "I don't know about the 'shadow' part anymore."
"The tales of your skills have reached my ears in Rivendell," Elrond said, carefully watching as she rode slightly behind him, her gaze unsettled. "Why ride you south?"
"I'm going to find my daughter," Buffy replied, lifting her chin as though challenging Elrond to question this decision. Instead, she saw a hint of something else in his gaze before she looked away. "Dead or alive, I'm going to bring her back."
"I heard of the loss of your eldest. I must apologize," Elrond said in a grave tone, "it must be difficult to bury your child."
"She wasn't my real daughter," Buffy chuckled as she steadied her horse along the rocky terrain. "At least, she wasn't really. But I don't think I'd ever love her any less if she was. They were both my girls… to lose both when I've fought so hard to get back would be devastating."
Elrond nodded as he considered her heartbreaking words. "I fear I have not heard tidings from my sons," he added, gesturing forward to two solid grey-cloaked beings riding side-by-side at the head of the column. "Perhaps it would be wise for you to ask them."
"Thank you," Buffy said, flashing the Elven Lord a quick smile before riding forward. Surpassing Lord Elrond's guard, she approached the two sons of Elrond who turned and gazed upon a vision in green riding fast upon them.
"Dear lady," the first said, frowning at her rather intriguing expression. "What troubles you?"
"I heard that you fought in Minas Tirith during the final battle," she replied.
"This is true," the second confirmed, bowing his head. "Forgive us, lady, but we do not know you. How can you speak to us if your name is unknown to us?"
"I'm Buffy," she said, offering a hasty smile. "All I know is that you two are absolutely identical."
They both smirked at her and exchanged a quick glance. "I am called Elrohir," the first one introduced himself as he gestured to the figure on Buffy's right. "This is my brother Elladan. And you are correct… we are the twin sons of Elrond."
"Would you know anything about a fleet of women sent from the north?" she asked, gazing between the two. Their gaze sobered and Elladan gave a small sigh as he turned back to face the woman's rather hasty expression. "My daughter was leading them."
"We have heard nothing," Elladan said apologetically. "All from the north were trapped near the old battle plains."
Buffy felt her breath catch in her throat and she blinked, glancing down. "Oh," she whispered.
"My lady," Elrohir said, glancing at his brother with alarm flashing through stormy-gray eyes, "please do not despair!"
"I'm not," she replied, glancing up. Both Elves saw that her gaze was far from distant. It was sheer determination. "If you had met her, you would know. She's a great fighter. I raised her myself. I taught her everything I knew… I gave her all she needed to know. Daire's a survivor. They all are. Excuse me." Turning, she allowed her horse to fall back slightly.
Elladan gazed at Elrohir before shifting his weight on his own steed. "She may not like what she finds. Her journey may have been made in vain."
"She must see for herself the hurts of this world," Elrohir replied softly. "Only then will she understand what she must do."
"I do not believe our Daernaneth has told her anything," Elladan said, his voice laced with concern.
"It would be best if we kept our silence."
"We shall," Elladan agreed. "She will discover all soon enough."
Turning back to the bright spring day, they continued riding onwards.
x-x-x
Minas Tirith was awash in beauty for Mid-Summer's day. Though the city had suffered utter hurt and despair in the past few months, there was a light breeze in the air and with it came a sudden gasp from one of the guards standing over the broken gates of the City of Kings. "There!" he shouted, gesturing outwards. "There!"
A guard standing below him squinted into the fields. The walls had been broken by the hundreds of thousands of dark forces that had swarmed their land not three months before. His eyes widened as he saw the standard of Gondor raised high at the front of a long column. He turned to see the guard who had shouted at him and quickly said, "I must go inform King Elessar."
"Do so," the guard replied, turning to the figure at his right. She was tall and gallant, with her long crimson cloak tied tightly about her shoulders. Her eyes peered into the distance and yet she said nothing. "It is as he foretold."
"I told you it would greatly benefit you to listen to him," she replied smartly, turning her back to march back to the citadel.
As the Elves came into the valley, there was a great murmur that spread through the city. King Elessar wore a knowing look. The rest of his guests to the great city wore looks of utter confusion as they did not know who to expect. The Elves then entered the city and began the long ride upwards. The guards had already pulled away from the gate an hour before and were now lining the streets as the standard of Gondor waved to and fro in the light breeze. On the top tier before the citadel and the seedling of the new White Tree stood the Lady Éowyn of Rohan and her Steward suitor, Faramir. Behind them were the greatest knights of Gondor all watching to see what would happen. King Elessar stood before the citadel wearing a bright expression. Gandalf stood slightly below him surrounded by Hobbits that were scratching their heads in confusion. Legolas and Gimli occupied the other side of the King and wore smug expressions, as though they knew secrets that the common folk did not.
It took the party a great while to scale six tiers. By the time Elladan and Elrohir reached the top, they were trying to poke one another with the staff of the standard. As they parted, the guardians of Elrond rode forward as the Elven Lord himself appeared before all. As he rode forward, he held out his hand as a secondary figure rode up on a calm grey steed. Her head was bowed and she was clothed in garments of the most beautiful shade of violet. Lifting her sea-grey eyes, she met the gaze of the one she loved most of all and smiled. It was a welcome smile, even as Elessar took a few hesitant steps forward.
Behind the Lady Arwen was someone else. Lord Elrond turned as Lady Galadriel rode up behind him, her arm gesturing to a single figure walking a horse up behind Elrond, looking small and rather insignificant next to such magnificent beings.
At once, the smug expression disappeared from the Elven Prince's face. Even as he stepped forward to welcome his brethren, his eyes were drawn to the figure attempting to hide herself behind the Elven Lord. It was obvious that no one told her such a procession would take place. But her eyes caught a movement. They were drawn to Legolas and then down to the glint of silver reflecting from about his throat. It was no ordinary Elven clasp he wore, no… it was silver and it was shaped as a cross.
Buffy felt as though she couldn't breathe for a second… Legolas, someone that she hadn't seen in quite possibly a decade, was wearing her cross.
Before she could even begin to process this, she heard a cry from behind her, as well as a loud roar of female voices. Some of the tones sounded familiar as Buffy turned, abandoning her steed to walk straight into the back of the standing Elves. Her jaw dropped as she saw a wave of crimson advancing steadily on her. A figure burst out from the sea and gazed upon her, tears trickling down pale cheeks. Buffy couldn't speak. She could barely move as it was. She just let the figure come near and take her into a pair of muscular arms. "Daire," she breathed at last as the young woman held her for a long moment. Buffy finally lifted her arms and held her daughter in return, thanking whichever powers existed in this world that at least one of her children had survived.
"You're alive!" Daire murmured, stepping back and bringing her hands to cover her tear-filled eyes. "Oh, please forgive the tears."
"Tears need no forgiveness," Buffy replied, attempting to hold her own emotions in check. It was then that she saw a sea of faces surrounding her. She recognized Mauve immediately and beamed at her former lieutenant. Despite the fact that her reunion with her true family had garnered the attention of the Elves, she could care less. All at once, they seemed to step back and bow down to her. Buffy blinked in confusion and glanced at Daire, who wore a knowing smile. "What is this?"
"We never thought we would see you again!" Mauve said, rising from where she had been kneeling with a fond smile at the younger-looking woman. "You must tell us of your survival… oh, please, dear lady."
"But first, what of Siri?" Daire asked, glancing over Buffy's shoulder at the long line of Elves. Some of them had turned back to Elessar. Most of them wore pitying expressions. "Oh, please say not that she has fallen!"
"She fell," Buffy affirmed, her tone breaking slightly. "She died in her blaze of glory."
There was a murmur of alarm between the women, all of whom turned to glance at Daire. "Who will lead us now?" a younger woman asked, looking despairingly at her leader. "Our people need someone to lead them."
"They have someone," Buffy said, steeling herself for this next decision. "But perhaps it can wait. We seem to have interrupted something."
To her surprise, Daire took her by the arm and walked her to the front of the column. Lady Arwen had already dismounted from her steed and her hand was tucked safely inside King Elessar's. Buffy's eyes widened as she recognized Strider. The small creatures had to be Hobbits. The white-haired Wizard was well-known to her, but seeing him in white robes meant that he had an interesting story to tell as well. The Dwarf was more than obvious as she could see that stout figure glaring at the proceedings. Legolas, on the other hand, was a different story.
He was gazing at her with those eyes, holding her attention even as some ceremony went on in the background. Gandalf was speaking, she could tell that for certain. But something inside of her had clicked suddenly and the past ten years had disappeared with a glance and an embrace. She was back where she needed to be and the deep-set guilt of leaving her loved ones behind would just have to remain buried for the time being. This was the happiest day of their lives and she refused to let her darkness dampen the festivities.
Daire remained at her side, dabbing at her eyes with the sleeve of her crimson cloak. Buffy took a moment to glance over her youngest child. Daire had grown up these past few years. She looked a lot like her father more than anyone, Buffy thought fondly. She was going to have to tell her that. This would come after Buffy explained that Daire was the new leader of her people, of course.
The ceremony ended and there was great applause. Buffy seemed to awaken from her stupor and brought her hands together, although she didn't quite know why she was clapping. Her people had come up from behind her and stood, surrounding their former leader, sheltering her from the many curious eyes. There were whispers then of why a woman had come with a large group of Elves.
King Elessar and Queen Arwen now stepped towards the people. The Elves had moved back to give them plenty of space. As Elessar glanced around, his gaze fell upon a small blonde-haired woman dressed splendidly in the garments of the Elves. His gaze shifted to Legolas and he smirked. His Elvish friend obviously wanted out of the procession to go to her. He leaned over and nudged the tall Thranduilion. "Go," he muttered into the Prince's shoulder. Legolas drew his eyes away and gave a slight shake of his head.
"This day is for you, my friend."
"And the dead has returned to life," Elessar said, literally jabbing his elbow into the Elf's ribs. "You have not taken your eyes from her."
"She cannot be real," Legolas replied in a low voice. They were getting very close now. Elessar noticed that the small woman was looking rather anxious. She didn't have anywhere to hide, either, as there was a sea of red standing behind her and just in front of her were the many Elves whom she had ridden with. There was no place left to go.
"Come," Elessar said to Arwen, leaving the Woodland Prince behind. Arwen followed obediently, her smile growing as she saw the small blonde surrounded by red cloaks.
"Strider," Buffy smirked, gazing up at him. "It's good to see you again. You wear a good crown."
"As did you, my lady," Elessar said, bowing his head. "They call me Elessar now, or Elf-stone. You have met Arwen?" he asked, drawing his wife into the conversation.
"We met on the journey," Buffy said, bowing her head respectively. "Congratulations."
Arwen gave Elessar a fond smile as she glanced over the many women who stood behind their leader. "These women are your warriors?"
"Always," Buffy returned, feeling her eyes mist as she glanced at the women around her.
Elessar gently released Arwen's arm and leaned over to speak to her. "We must speak as soon as the welcome is worn," he whispered. He knew that she could hear him. "For those of us who have heard the tale many times, you were dead."
Her eyes were dark as he pulled away. "I don't think you'd believe it even if I did tell you."
"You forget my kin," Elessar beamed, gesturing as the two twin sons of Elrond came to their sister.
Buffy's eyes suddenly grew sad as she viewed their warm embraces. Biting her lip, she nodded. "We'll talk."
Elessar gave her a parting smile. The women around her all bowed down again. It seemed to be something that they had been trained to do on command. Buffy knew that if she ever stepped in as leader again, it would be one of the first things she altered. But before she could dwell on those thoughts, the figure that had been behind Elessar came forward and she forgot how to think at all.
At once, Daire began to bow again, but Buffy's hand reached out and clipped her shoulder. "Don't," she murmured as Daire straightened, glancing at Buffy in confusion. Both of their gazes were critical, as though trying to see past the ten years that had distanced them.
"My lady," Legolas finally said after an awkward moment of silence. He bowed his head slightly and turned to walk away.
Buffy blinked as she stared after him. It took a nudge from Daire and Mauve's hissed words, "Go after him, you fool!" that finally carried her into action. Taking a few steps forward, she reached out and touched his arm. He turned around quickly, his eyes narrowing. She quickly withdrew her hand at his withering look and felt as though her breath had stopped. Her cross was so close. She felt her fingers slowly move forward to gently graze the cold metal.
"Didn't know you liked silver," she said softly, her fingers reaching over to graze her precious necklace. His hand moved to cover hers and her gaze lifted to meet his.
"This was precious to you," he replied evenly.
"And you've kept it all these years," she marveled, refusing to break eye contact. "I didn't know you had it in you."
"Ere you left, you were someone close to me," he replied, feeling as her fingers twisted beneath his. Her hand drew away, but he could still feel the warmth of her touch. He moved his hand from the cross to touch her face. Her skin still held some of its golden hue, courtesy of the small amount of time she had spent in California. "You are real."
"I'm not a ghost," she chided as she felt his cool hand touch her face. She felt flushed for some reason. "But I am real. See?" She leaned over, poking his arm away. "Real as can be."
"I quite imagine you have an interesting story to tell," he replied, his hand moving away.
"I don't think you'd believe it," she deadpanned, recalling the incredulous expression on Galadriel's face when she spoke of time travel through the use of magic. It was as though Galadriel knew it could happen, but never believed it had happened before. Buffy had held her tongue, knowing that Tara had once been a part of this world. Whether it was during this time or some time in the future after the fall of darkness, she didn't know. "But I'm not going anywhere."
It was nearing sunset as Legolas and Buffy strolled beneath the gardens. Though the trees were twisted and dead, there was a trace of former beauty amongst the crisped leaves and cracked railings. She had spent a majority of the afternoon telling him what had happened. Daire had allowed her lady to go off with the Elf because she had her own reasons to celebrate; her mother was alive and well. Though she had no idea why Buffy was alive, she knew that she would be informed in due time.
"That is quite a tale," Legolas replied after a long pause. Buffy had moved to the railing and was glancing at the blood-red sunset, her gaze clouded. "To travel through space and time with the words of one as powerful as Lady Galadriel…"
"It's the truth," she sighed, closing her eyes. "I was there. I felt it. I lived it. I don't want to go through it again."
"Why would they wish for you to return to your former time?"
"There was no real reason," Buffy shrugged. "I think it's because they missed me."
"They were not alone."
She opened her eyes and turned to glance at him. "Are you saying that I was missed here?"
"Indeed."
"I know I missed a few battles and pretty much the entire war, but—"
"That was not why you were missed, although your sword-arm could have been of great use," Legolas replied. His voice was growing softer as he gazed out at the beauty of the sky. Facing west, he smiled as he heard the gentle cry of the gulls.
"Rats with wings," muttered the voice at his elbow.
His smile grew as he regarded her. Extraordinary as her tale was, it did not compare to seeing her in the flesh once again. She was as lovely as he had recalled and as sarcastic as she had been. Things had not changed with her, he realized. She had been through something so large he could not comprehend it, and he had lived for a thousand years. "You should not assume that all things are ill."
"All they do is eat and defecate," she muttered.
"They are a sign to those of us who wish to travel west," Legolas informed her. Her smile fell slightly as she pondered his words.
"When you put it that way," she smirked. "They're still rats with wings that eat and make noise."
"Some things will never change," Legolas replied.
"Well, considering my time, I've only been gone six months," Buffy said, turning away from him. "I guess you can say I haven't changed much. There's no more shadow. There's no more Siri." She hadn't yet told him of the battle where Siri had been killed, nor did she wish to. Daire deserved to learn this information first. "But I fulfilled the promise to your dear Dad so he can't hold threats over me anymore."
"That was never his intention," Legolas added.
"It wasn't?" She was looking at him in surprise now.
"He would have asked you to remain at his side through the ages," Legolas smirked. "He knows that you are not mortal."
"See, I would have had a problem with that," Buffy laughed. "As much as I like your Dad… or rather respect him, I think I like his son more."
He was gazing at her again. Lifting her arms from the railing, she continued to walk through the gardens. Around them shadows were cast to the walls. A great bell began to toll from the citadel. "We must return," Legolas said quietly from behind her.
"I know," she muttered. "I'm not ready yet."
"What must you ready yourself for?"
"There is something I have to know," Buffy said, turning around to look at him. As she did, the light caught the silver cross. She felt like laughing at the hint of confusion across his brow. Taking a deep breath, she moved forward towards him. Before he could even wager at her actions, she had reached up and used his shoulders to pull him down to her. As her lips met his, he felt her hand grasp his neck and pull his head nearer. At once, she knew why it was worth it. If she could have imagined stars and fireworks, it would have been at this moment. His arms gently surrounded her and she felt as though this perfect moment was wrapped up within this one embrace. When they finally stepped apart, she was slightly flushed. Her eyes were wide as she gazed at him, her feet planting back firmly on the ground.
"Like I said," she whispered in a hushed tone, "I just had to know."
His smirk was all she needed to see, she thought. Although she had initiated the kiss, there was intensity on his end. Elves were amongst the gentlest creatures she had met, but within them was a passion that seemed to undeniably draw her in. Whatever she had once felt for him had been justified, she thought, slowly following him out of the garden towards the citadel towering a tier over their heads. Galadriel's words came back, ringing in her head. A smile crept across her face as she pondered these words. She still had more confessions to make, including a long talk with Daire. But the rest of the world seemed to be clearly awaiting something from her.
Oh, the things she could do…
x-x-x-x
The last part… Buffy makes a difficult decision which will ensure her people's safety forever…