Miscellaneous
Answers: Chloe, thank you, really. There used to be other things I had posted elsewhere (before I let my domain expire), so I'm working on rebuilding my online archive. I'm usually not the writer, but the editor, so this is a whole new journey for me! Anyanka, it's quite all right, my blondness has gotten me into trouble (or in trouble as I can be since underneath I am still the same red).
Pairings: There are book pairings. As much as I would love to write a Buffy/Aragorn, I wouldn't know where to begin. A Buffy/Legolas I am working on. And more Elves will be present soon enough (think of the scene where Halbarad shows up with Elladan and Elrohir from the book).
Events: This fiction is also one that will follow the end of the trilogy (from 'Riders of Rohan' onward) through the end of the 'Return of the King', but will hopefully go in a different direction from there. At most, there will be 20 chapters from the original story, and hopefully another 5 to follow, unless one of us gets ambitious enough to continue on. Otherwise, we will likely leave the story where it already ends. This story follows the path of Rohan through the events of the book.
Pickers: (KCL) Now I'm annoyed. My writing been compared to that of a character from Dawson's Creek? I have NEVER even seen THAT show... geez! I don't know if I should feel insulted or just laugh. I'm sure Aly would do the same, because her Buffy is better than mine. I checked out F/X, which is the only channel still showing the show, and it's still in the later seasons. I should probably start watching older episodes, but since Buffy isn't my genre (which happens to be Stargate SG-1), I'll just accept the fact I'll always be a lousy Buffy writer.
Thank You's: I appreciate those that say this is an original storyline... especially since I personally haven't read all that many stories... I am quite curious though: what are the other storylines? I should probably go out and look for some. I just finished reading 'The Gift of Death', recommended to us by our guild's co-mommy.
Disclaimer: J.R.R. Tolkien owns 'The Lord of the Rings' book series. Joss Whedon controls the world of Buffy. Peter Jackson and company own "The Lord of the Rings' films. We only own a part of the plot.
Summary: Buffy is summoned to fulfill an oath before she can rest in peace.
Chapter Summary: Buffy arrives at Edoras and comes face to face with evil... again.
Chapter Warning: This chapter actually uses bits from the film. Why? They seemed to fit in here, even if they weren't in the book.
- - - - -
Chapter 4
The King of the Golden Hall
Part I
By Alyson Kay
- - - - -
Two days later, still at full-canter, Buffy was reeling. As they broke camp that night, she collapsed near the fire, rubbing her sore back and backside. She may be the Slayer, but a horse-woman, she was not. She was aching from riding at nearly full gallop for two days bent over the back of a horse large enough to buck her off and then trample her to death. If that wasn't bad, she had a spear to carry, and a shield over her back. The helmet she had removed once the company of Aragorn had parted. It had been making her head all itchy.
During this time, Hálas had been speaking to her about what had happened to the King of this Mark. Théoden had sought the counsel of Gríma Wormtongue, a puppet of Saruman.
"Long has he poisoned the mind of the King," Hálas said heavily as Buffy redid the dressings on his leg. "Long as hope been lost for our people." But there was pride in his eyes and not even the treachery of a Wizard could take that away.
Apparently, he considered her to be one of them. She realized that she looked more like these Rohirrim than she did the man of Gondor, unless she counted by height. Then, she might be as tall as the Dwarf, but nowhere near as hideous as what she had seen. Smoothing the man's dressing, she helped him sit and brought him stew.
"You have gentle hands," Éothain spoke to her as she ladled stew into a clay bowl. "Men of this company would gladly give their legs to have you be of service."
Buffy nearly dropped the bowl into the pot. "You have got to be kidding me," she scoffed, turning to stare at Éothain. "See these hands? They're the hands of a fighter, not those of some idle play-nurse."
She moved as quickly as she could from him and joined Hálas, who started telling her about the éored. She watched him sleepily as he spoke and was soon drifting off to sleep. He stopped his story, smiling at the young woman curled at his feet.
Hálas watched her sleep before lifting his gaze to Éomer who stood over them, watchful as always. "What will become of her once we reach Edoras?"
"The King will not be pleased with me for my own decision as it were," Éomer said with a grimace. "It is likely she will have to answer to Gríma, and he will not be as pleased when he finds a stranger has joined our company." He sighed and stared down at the woman underneath her Elven cloak. "She knows more than she is willing to speak. She will have to answer to the King."
"They would execute her rather than have her join the defense of this land," Hálas said angrily.
"She must be made to become one of us," Éomer replied resolutely. "She looks to be of Rohan, yet her coverings are that of the Elf-kind."
"Do you suppose she was with those passing men?" Éothain asked, joining the two.
"It has crossed my mind," Éomer admitted. "They did not speak of her, and a simple man would have spoken of a woman with the strength she has." His gaze softened slightly as he lowered his proud eyes to the bundle at their feet. "What has been done is done. We can no more abandon her to the Riddermark than take her into our camp. Éowyn will care for her once she is inside the Hall. That is, if we are not beheaded on sight for leaving Edoras to its scant defenses."
The men of the company gathered then to sing a song for those that had fallen. Once the song was complete, they all turned to sleep, since tomorrow they would arrive at Edoras, the capital of Rohan.
They rode out early again. Buffy, feeling surprisingly well-rested, joined the end of the column with the other injured men. They set out as one and were soon within distance of a city atop a hill.
"Edoras," Éothain told her as she rode up beside him to better look at the hill. "Our home." He took in the look on her face. "You have not seen it before."
"No," she said, continuing on. "I haven't."
The entire éored rode down from the hills and passed beneath the heavy gate of Edoras. She pulled towards the front of the line and kept her eyes on the small homes and the people staring at them with large eyes as they passed. Not one of their faces gave smiles of welcome or tears of joy that the men of this land had returned safely. No, they cast their eyes downwards and continued about their task. It was as though the cloud of doom had settled itself over these houses. The streets weren't filled with laughing, giggling children but with children staring with haunted eyes, eyes that had seen battle and war.
As someone who had frequently carried the weight of the world on her shoulders, Buffy could understand their lost expressions. They had little hope in which to lead them from darkness. Even if she wasn't the one to help them, the least she could do was try to crack a smile on one of those sad faces.
They reached the hall of Meduseld in quick time, but the horses continued onto the stables, where many hands waited to greet them. From this distance, she could see great flags bellowing in the cold wind sweeping down from the mountains. She shivered even under the chainmail cloak she wore and as soon as a stable hand took her reins, she descended her mount and began following the men towards the great hall before them.
Éomer stopped her by taking her arm. "You have no place in the Hall of the King," he said quietly, trying to pull her out of the formation.
She pulled her arm away from his and glared up at him as he passed his helmet along. "I said I came here to see your King."
"He will not see you," Éomer said, taking a brisker pace after his men. "And when he does, you will be questioned and then poisoned against my men."
"I wouldn't do that!" she said indignantly. "I may not know what's going on, but I'm a big girl; I can take care of myself. You don't know me, so don't assume anything!"
"You come where no stranger has been welcome," Éomer said, taking her arm again. "I do not wish to see you cast out on your lonesome."
"I can take care of myself," she repeated, towing her arm again. But he held his grip. "Stop making excuses, Éomer. I'm not very patient. I've dealt with the bad before. Take your hand off of me before I do something we'll both regret."
He released her arm and gazed into her eyes. She spoke no lies, yet she was hidden from him, although standing regally before him. One thing was for certain: she was hell-bent on getting inside the Hall. Before he could speak, he saw a figure with fair hair approaching them, looking concerned.
"Éomer! When you disappeared, I feared the worst!" she cried, touching his shoulder before turning her attention to the small woman in front of her brother. "And what have you brought with you?"
"I'm Merilin," Buffy said finally, sticking out her free hand. The woman looked taken aback and just stared at Buffy's hand.
"You are not from Rohan," she said quietly, sounding rather surprised.
"No, I'm not," Buffy said, feeling slightly happier now that someone had finally spoken this out loud. "But I came to talk to your King."
"Are you friend or foe to Saruman?" the taller woman asked. Éomer tried to interject, but his sister was bent on learning the truth.
"I'm not his friend," Buffy said, wishing that the Marshal would stop staring at her. "I don't have many of those here." This was the truth, as she saw it at least.
The girl turned a puzzled face to her brother, who gazed down at her, his own eyes lightening. "The snake has become aware of your presence, my brother. He is asking that you come before him. He is angered that you left on such short time and left Edoras to waste in the face of disaster."
Éomer glanced at both women, clasped his sister's arm, and hurried off. Buffy made to follow him, but the woman took her by the arm and held her back. "You wish not to get involved with the war of wills."
"Like anything could get through to him," Buffy said sternly, gazing at the taller woman. "Who are you?"
"Forgive me, Merilin. There are not many who do not know. I am Éowyn, sister of Éomer, daughter of Éomund," the woman said, bowing her head again. "As for Éomer, he needs no will but his own."
"He's up against a lot," Buffy said, her eyes full of sympathy as she stared out after the figure, who was nothing more than a shadow now. "He's a very proud man."
"He was trying to protect you from certain death," Éowyn replied gently. "All strangers in this land never set foot outside Edoras, and one thing is certain; you are not from Rohan. Were you to go before my Uncle, you would not survive the visitation."
"Wait a sec… Your… Uncle?"
"Théoden King was my mother's brother," Éowyn explained.
"You… you're royal?" Buffy asked. Had she not just insulted one of the bloody princes of this country?
"We would be considered as such, yes," Éowyn replied, still gazing at the blonde. "You say your name is Merilin. That is an Elf-name."
"I've seen a few of them," Buffy admitted. "My other name is Anne. Merilin is what the Elves named me."
"Why you have chosen to ride with the Rohirrim, no man can ever tell," said Éowyn quietly. "But you have risked your life to come here under the pretense of paying tribute to our King. Is that not why you have come?"
Buffy really wanted to say something about Gandalf then. As much as she longed to tell this woman that he was still alive, she chose a different path. "I'm in the service of Mithrandir," she said finally, as though speaking of her Colonel in some white-cloaked army.
Éowyn looked at her in surprise. "We have heard of Gandalf Greyhame. He is not welcome in this country nor is he welcome on this land. He made an enemy of the King upon his last return, and any under his service are to be considered an enemy."
Good one, Buffy, she thought to herself with a sigh. She wanted to build trust with this woman, not completely turn her into an enemy.
Yet Éowyn gazed upon her with pity. "Come to the Golden Hall," she said at last. "You will meet our King. Long has it been since he had any will of his own, and only Éomer has brought our people pride." She stepped forward and gently pried off the heavy cloak of chainmail and set it aside. "You may wish to disarm yourself."
Buffy undid her belt and set it aside. Feeling naked without her sword digging into her hip, she smoothed her Elvish cloak and followed Éowyn up the stairs and to the front gates, where many stood on guard.
At once, they opened the doors for the Lady of Rohan, and both women swept inside. The Golden Hall was dark for its time, with small candles burning in sconces on the walls. The great banner of Rohan hung behind the throne, where a withered, weathered man sat, hunched over, looking far older than his time.
Buffy nearly gasped as her senses came rushing back to meet her. She had no idea how, but it felt as though this man was under some sort of spell. It was like the First was sitting on this chair before her, looking like the worn old man with the crown on his head. Instead, she straightened up, feeling even shorter as men followed their path through the hall and stood before the throne.
King Théoden glanced up and met the hazel-gaze of the traveler. He started to mutter senselessly, but it was the cold words behind them that sounded along with the slamming of the door they'd just entered. "Late is the hour by which you return," said a slimy, evil-sounding voice.
Buffy noticed that Éowyn had tensed beside her.
"She has come to seek your counsel," Éowyn said quickly.
Buffy's eyes widened in surprise as she gazed intently at the taller woman. What the hell was going on? What was Éowyn doing?
"My counsel," said the figure, moving into sight. Buffy noticed him, then. He was smaller than the riders of Rohan. He wore a long, black cloak and was as hunched as the King, his eyes hidden behind strands of dark hair. His skin was a shade of greenish-grey and his oily skin glowed in the firelight. "You have brought a woman before me for counsel?"
"She wishes to speak with the King," Éowyn said clearly.
"I have a matter I wish to speak with the King," the figure said snappishly. "You and your guest will leave this Hall at once."
"You cannot send me away," Éowyn said proudly, lifting her chin against this figure that would defile her.
"Your brother has abandoned you, my Lady," the man continued, smiling cruelly. Buffy noticed that his teeth were as grey as his skin. "You tire your King with your complaints and your derision. His rule has long held this land."
He reached out a grey hand to touch her, but to Éowyn's surprise, the woman next to her had stepped in front of her, glaring up at the figure.
"You must be Gríma Worm-blood. They've told me about you," she said quickly as Éowyn pulled away, recoiling in disgust at what had almost happened.
"I have no time for you," he said, peering into her eyes, which remained as cold as he'd seen them. "Be gone from this land! There is no place here for a woman of your stature."
"I don't like you," Buffy said, taking a step closer towards him. She was well aware that there were men wielding swords and they were moving nearer, but she didn't dare pull her gaze away now. "You're a smart guy, you figure it out. I'm not going away until I do what I came here to do." Her eyes narrowed as she took in his pallor and felt the eerie waves of evil vibe practically bouncing off of him. "I've killed evil darker than you."
"What witchcraft do you carry?" he asked coldly.
Buffy didn't move her gaze, but she could feel the footsteps stop suddenly behind her. "How many times do I have to tell you I'm not a spy? I don't belong to you, so quit looking at me like you have no idea what I'm talking about and grow yourself a brain. I don't have time for this!"
"You speak against the King of Rohan?" the man asked as the figures surrounded them. Éowyn was feeling very nervous now and backed away completely until she stood beside her Uncle, her face a mask of fear.
"She stands not alone," said a deep voice.
"Éomer," Gríma said, sounding delighted as he pulled away from the small woman. "Your King has a matter that he wishes to discuss with you, since you have so kindly told him of this news…"
Buffy's eyes implored him to get out of the room, as those who advanced on her were now turning to advance on him.
"You have returned as you had not been given the will to leave," the man said, taking the seat beside the King and turning to the withered figure. "My liege, this sister-son has been warmongering. They say that he has given strangers passage to this land and that he has bestowed upon them horses, as well. What would be your punishment for such… treason?"
Éowyn glanced at her brother, but he stood before his King, his eyes filled with mistrust and anger. "I do not answer to you," he said coldly. "I have taken my éored, my own birthright."
Théoden King made another gesture and rasped out, "You left this city with no defense."
"That he did, my lord," Gríma said, looking positively delighted now. "And he gave your property to strangers." His eyes moved to Buffy, who didn't relent her infuriated gaze. "But he brought to me a gift."
"She is no gift of yours," Éomer said coldly. "If you touch her, I will kill you by my own hand."
"Such is the will of a warmonger," the man said with his cruel smile. "Such tactless grace and cold malevolence he carries, for he does not know the troubles of an already troubled mind."
"Too long have you poisoned his mind," Éomer said darkly, as the soldiers behind him started forward at Gríma's motion. "Too long have you darkened his shadow."
Buffy drew in a sharp breath. Éomer had done something quite kind and had stuck up for her, even though he didn't know who she really was. She was alone in this world, in this Hall, with a man who was coldly rebuking the good will of the world of men. He was standing before the last hope of these people and was tearing him apart, piece by piece.
The man paused and turned back to the King, who had straightened. Buffy was revolted to see how truly ancient he appeared, for not even Gandalf had appeared this old. "Imprison… imprison him…"
"A wise decision, my liege," Gríma said coldly as he turned to look at Éomer. Buffy felt her heart go out to him, as his eyes had the trapped, betrayed look as he glanced at his Uncle who sat motionless upon his throne. She wanted to cry out and intervene, but her sense of caution overrode her sense of duty. The soldiers sprang forward and held swords to his neck and chest.
"Take him to the dungeons," the figure said with his callous smile. "Should he return, it would be under the penalty of death."
"No!" Buffy cried out, but her shout wasn't heard over the sound of Éomer being punched and dragged backwards out of the Golden Hall. Éowyn turned to Gríma, her eyes flashing, before following behind them.
Buffy made to follow when two soldiers grasped her arms and pushed her forward. She struggled against them, only stopping when a cold hand took her chin roughly.
"And the visitor," Gríma said, smiling as he touched her face, his hand moving down to her brooch. "Such innocence in her eyes… such anger. You will make a fine choice here, whatever your reason for coming to this land."
"Get your hands off of me," Buffy said in a voice underlined with anger. A hand struck her cheek and she touched it, but did not cry out. Gríma's hand reached up and clutched her throat. Her hands struck out and shoved him brutally away. Instantly the guards surrounded her, but her gaze was reserved for the leech that stood before her, grinning coldly.
"You are small, little one, and feisty. You will not dispute against me again if you wish to live," he said, before throwing her back into the arms of his guards. "Bring her to Éowyn. Do not argue with me, child. If you do, I shall have you imprisoned as I had your horse-master."
Buffy gave him one last look of great loathing as she was dragged sputtering out of the Golden Hall and dumped mercilessly down the steps. She rolled until she got to the bottom, landing hard on her stomach. "I hate that man," she muttered. She felt extremely insulted; he had just called her 'little', which is something she truly wasn't, especially when it came to fighting.
She heard footsteps and a hand gently pulled her up. "Are you injured, my lady?"
"No, I'm all right," she said, allowing herself to be helped to her feet as she gazed at the door of Meduseld, which had just been slammed shut. She didn't realize it then, but she was still trembling with rage.
- - - -
It was about this time that Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli disappeared into Fangorn Forest and came across a man they didn't expect to see, for he was old and many would consider him to be Saruman. Once his identity had been revealed as Gandalf, the Wizard who had fallen was reborn again.
It brought them comfort to know that the Halflings were safe and in the deepest heart of the wood.
Gandalf's words brought little comfort to them as they continued to the edge of the forest. "A thing is about to happen which has not happened since the days of the Elders; the Ents are going to wake up and realize that they are strong." He paused. "Merry and Pippin are safe, far safer than where we ride to."
"I go to Edoras," Aragorn said.
"Yes, Edoras is where we must go," Gandalf replied, as they walked the sunlit path. "War will come to Théoden and all will go ill for him. We must make haste or else all will fall and Rohan will crumble. These are simple folk who wish for freedom and this is the task that is set before them. They will not understand what has already been given them."
He took one step into the sunlight. "I have spoken words of hope, but hope alone is not victory. War is upon us and all of our friends."
"You are our captain," Aragorn said, as both Legolas and Gimli silently agreed. "The Dark Lord may have nine, but we have One, and mightier than they. We have the White Rider. He has passed through fire and darkness and all fear him. We will go where he leads and he will lead us to whatever end."
"To whatever end," Gandalf said as he paused, swinging his staff from his right hand to his left. "Hope is still forsaken in these lands, and in the hope of the one sent before me, she has been imprisoned in the darkness, yet her faith strengthens." Glancing up, he whistled into the air. "We must make haste. Rohan's time has almost passed and all will soon fade to memory."
- - - -
Buffy spent the next three days locked inside her small room in the Golden Hall, ignoring all the mutterings about outlanders. She had shed her Elf-cloak and her gown, changing into a more appropriate style supplied by Éowyn. She was pleased to see that even though it was a deep reddish-brown, it was still flattering in its own way. It was sad to cast away her trousers and her Elven-cloak, but since people were suspicious enough of her, she didn't need to draw any more suspicion to herself. Without these tell-tale signs that she didn't belong there, she blended it quite perfectly and soon moved about the Golden Hall.
Éowyn left frequently during the daytime, leaving Buffy to pace the small rooms, reading from books written in languages she didn't understand and cursing the Powers for leaving her here without the proper knowledge. She had no idea that every single race in this stupid world had their very own language!
She was half-tempted to find a way down into the prison, which Éothain had told her was under Meduseld and ruled with an iron fist by puppets of Gríma, and Buffy had no intentions of another face-down with that horrible demon of a man. If he hadn't been human and hadn't been surrounded by even more tall humans that looked as though they belonged on a professional wrestling circuit, she would have taken them all out. This left her with a King who thought with the mind of a Dark Wizard, and that was even more treacherous to think about. In the end, she was very glad she hadn't done what she had been about to do.
She instead spent her free time in the gardens or the stables, trying to tempt her dark grey mare with sugar lumps and carrot sticks. It took the mare two days before Buffy was able to touch her again. Apparently her old master was some really great rider, and Buffy, being the apprentice she was, was almost unbearable. It helped pass the time, something that she most grateful for.
On the evening of the third day, she went out with Éowyn. They went down to the entrance of a cavern, whose stone door had been set ajar.
"This is the grave of Théodred, the King's son, my cousin," the young woman said as both stepped inside. "He was killed not a fortnight ago by Orcs bearing the white-hand of Saruman. This was the reason why Éomer left to track those heading to the west." Her face was lined with grief and Buffy was startled to see so much pain. "He was the heir to the throne, the only heir. And my King has imprisoned the other."
She turned to Buffy. "I have longed to see the day when this land would be renewed and the people proud and strong. I have lasted through war and battle, and watched the youth die away. They leave behind the old and the battered; those who carry fear in their hearts and have no will left to go to battle." She closed her eyes and looked down, a single tear rolling down her cheek. "King Théoden did not even come to his son or seek his counsel. That evil snake turned upon them both, Éomer and my cousin. He attempted to force them to fight, but they were united against Saruman's will. This is why news of Théodred's death was kept from the King. This is the true reason why my brother is down in the dungeons."
Both women glanced at the stone tomb, where inside laid the body of a man who could have been King. Buffy couldn't find any words to say. She heard her own words in her mind, talking about how people were stupid to die. It didn't seem fitting here, and she could find nothing in her own experiences save one; when she had killed Angel. Her grief had led her to run away from everything and to seek the company of no one. But Éowyn lived in this fear, day by day. She was truly alone.
Not anymore, Buffy swore to herself. She had made a promise to help these people see a new day, and even if it took every last ounce of her stunted patience and compassion, she was going to see it through.
"Your cousin died a hero," Buffy told the older woman in a gentle voice. "That's the most… brave kind of death there is."
These words brought Éowyn little comfort, but she heard the darkness in the other woman's voice and knew she had experienced a taste of this pain. "Have you been through war?"
Buffy's eyes lowered and she nodded. "A few," she said, as the women left the tomb. As they exited, Éowyn made to close the door. Buffy stepped in and helped her push it back into place. "I have lost my people, too."
"Have you a family?" Éowyn inquired as the two continued towards the city around them.
"I did," Buffy said, crossing her arms. "My mother died a few years ago, and my father left my family before that."
"We know the same bitterness with each passing," Éowyn said quietly. "I lost my mother from grief when my father was cut down by Orcs. I was very young at this time and do not remember."
"Sometimes it's better when you don't," Buffy replied. She realized then there were dark clouds approaching from the north. "When people die really painful deaths, it's better when you remember them happy and not… dying. I have seen too many die." There was a haunted look in her eyes as she gazed away for a moment, and the look passed as the wind ceased.
"Why have you come to Edoras?" Éowyn asked of her. Buffy gave her a pained smile and sighed.
"I can't fool you, can I?" she asked with a sharp laugh as both women sat upon the lower stairs, watching as the people went about their daily chores, all donned in black. "I made a promise to someone I would come and serve your King when he needed me. I just happened to meet your brother and his hundred merry men on the way."
"Is your land a warrior's land?" Éowyn asked curiously as they both stared out over Edoras.
Buffy smiled. "There are few of us left," she replied truthfully. "Many of us died in our last war. I was dead… but then I came back because I had one last thing to do and this…" She gestured to Meduseld and its great banners which rippled in the wind. "As odd as it sounds, I like this place better."
"I envy your courage," Éowyn said after a moment's silence. "Not many are like you and wish to fight for this land. All are loyal, but hope wanes in the face of Saruman's control. With Éomer imprisoned, the path is clear to the King, and hope is lost." She didn't comment on Buffy's mention that she'd been dead.
"No," Buffy said, leaning over and taking the other woman's hand. "Don't ever think that. I've been through a lot of things I'm sure no one here will get. But you're not alone anymore, because I'll be damned if I let that worm-man lock me up. I don't know what's coming next, but I do know it's probably going to be bad. If we keep hoping and hoping, nothing's going to happen, because we'll both die from old age or an attack, whichever happens first. There's always hope, but only if we act on it."
Éowyn gave her a tragic smile and glanced proudly at the black banner rippling in the wind. "You may be the only one who believes in that."
"Believing in myself is the one thing that has gotten me through my life," Buffy said, glancing at Éowyn. "I've only got the cliffs notes version of what's been going on here, and from what I can tell, all paths lead to the men. I'm a hard person to get along with, or I was… I had a lot of responsibility back then. Kind of like what you have now, only this is… old."
"I am trapped in this house," Éowyn said clearly, looking startled at the way this other woman was speaking to her. "It is naught but a cage and I will die within it. I will succumb to old age and misuse and the darkness will take me, as it has taken my King. This responsibility you tell me I have, I did not seek this. I do not know it exists."
"You're alone," Buffy said quietly. "I don't mean that you're stuck in a hall with a bunch of really not-so-nice men who just leer at you. I'm saying that you're one of the only people in this house that hasn't had their brain overtaken by an evil Wizard. You're of the power here, Éowyn. It's time to make your choice. You can either act when change comes or you can die here in your… cage."
Poor Éowyn looked so miserable as she stared out over the fields, her fair hair blowing in the wind as she rose to her feet. "Such has been dark for too long," she said over the rush of the breeze. "If it comes to change, I will accept this change."
"Don't be afraid of it," Buffy said as she joined her. "Sometimes change is good. Change is power. There's a reason I'm here, and while I don't exactly know why, I'm sure I'll find out."
She suddenly cut off her own words as a strange sense came over her, almost as though she had grown a sixth one.
"What is it?" Éowyn asked, seeing the look on the other woman's face. "What do you see?"
"I sense something," Buffy said vaguely, glancing down as she tried to make sense of the emotion she had just felt. It was almost as though someone had called out to her.
Éowyn rose slowly, glancing down at the woman still at her feet. "What gift is yours if not sorcery?" she demanded in her quiet tone.
Buffy stood up quickly to face the woman, but was still looking up to her, since Éowyn was as tall as many of the women of this land, and even as tall as those of Elf-kind. "I feel power," she said uncertainly. "It's coming from out there." Turning, she ran down the slope and towards one of the lower gates. Reaching it, she stared out into the early evening, but could see nothing. "My senses aren't witchy, not really, anyway. They come with the whole Slayer package."
"I fear the time may come when even your gift will bring us little comfort," Éowyn said, casting a dark look at the land beyond the walls of Edoras. She didn't ask about the Slayer thing.
"This isn't a bad thing," Buffy said slowly, her eyes widening. Of course, she thought. Of course. Gandalf was coming. For some reason, they had a connection, a sense of knowing where the other was. He had a great power over her, yet she had power of her own, and for one moment their minds had been linked.
She silently followed Éowyn up to the Hall, feeling as though she had let Gandalf down. No one was ready to jump into any fight just yet, and the leader of their army was stuck in a dungeon. As she lay upon her bed, she began to think about Éomer and what he must be feeling. She recalled just a few weeks before when she had been cast from her home by her friends. It hadn't been a cold betrayal, but it had stung, nonetheless. She had felt trapped, defeated. It was only Spike's strength that had brought her through, breaking through the cold shell of misery.
She smiled at the memory of Spike and thought of his heroic death, as hers had been. She wondered where he was now, if he was trapped in a netherworld or if he had gone back through time. How many thousands of years had she fallen?
She thought of Dawn and smiled, tears filling her eyes. The young woman had so much strength and it was a beautiful gift for the world. She was going to do a great many things, and all around her would be proud. Buffy had never been more proud, even though her sister was not standing beside her.
As she drifted off to sleep, thoughts of her friends and her home came back to her. She wouldn't allow herself to weep just yet. There was enough grief in this country for hundreds of replicas of herself. She did not need to add to the pain already felt. She had a dark past; who didn't?
The truth was she had accepted this challenge because she hadn't been ready to die. When she was ready, she would know. Wasn't that what Whistler had said? She wasn't ready yet, but if this world was as dark and hopeless as it seemed… she would be ready soon enough.
There was still so much she wanted to do. Even as the only Slayer in this world, she had no place in it. She knew this. There weren't the normal vampires and demons and forces of darkness. There were Elves and Men and Dwarves, along with races she didn't know and didn't have a clue on how to pronounce them. But the Slayer was more than just a fighter; she believed in something. These people had no faith in their world, as their captains had fallen. She may not be the best person to lead a bunch of men she didn't know into battle, but if they needed a miracle, she was their star. She had died three times and still had breath within her. She was going to be there when they needed her, unto the ending of the world, even if it happened to be the same moment she realized she wanted to live. These people needed hope, and Buffy, although she'd been fighting for a long time, wasn't oblivious to things such as fate and hope. She'd stopped believing in normalcy a long time ago, but that didn't mean she wasn't going to try something new. This was definitely not normal, as she wasn't.
She was awoken by the same presence in her mind. It wasn't yet sunrise, and she felt sleepy as she sat up and rose, dressing quickly. As she passed by the windows, she saw three horses riding up the path, speaking with their guide. With a grim smile, she dressed and wrapped herself in a dark cloak and went into the corridors. She could sense it, almost as though he were standing next to her telling her how to speak like an Elf in his semi-patient voice.
Gandalf had come at last.
- - -
In the next chapter… Gandalf does his magic and Buffy shows that young people aren't as expendable as Théoden says they are.
I decided to post this chapter today because it's my brother's birthday. Sappy am I, I know. It is more fun this way. He doesn't read fanfiction, but if he did, he'd be rolling his eyes and calling me his sappy big sister all over again. I love the boy.
To give you an idea of how this fiction will progress, I will offer this: Buffy was literally dropped on the eve of battle, and after three minor skirmishes, she faces the battle of Helm's Deep her third week in a new world. This fiction progresses rather quickly (since the timeline is quite compressed), and because this story hasn't been divided out quite yet, I cannot say how much of it is in canon and much of it is out.