FIRST KNIGHT BY ASHA DREAMWEAVER
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.
Summary: BtVS/LotR. Buffy gets sent to Middle Earth to help bring down Sauron. Her duty, like the Istari, is not to confront Sauron directly but to help those fated to face him bring him down. More specifically she's to help the King of Gondor get on his throne. Will Arwen and Aragorn's love stand against the shadow? Will Legolas be able to keep a secret, that if revealed, could shatter the lives of those he cares for? Will Buffy be able to fulfil her duty? Will Denethor be able to put aside his animosity for the man who would supplant him? Will the ringbearer reach Mount Doom, or will he be cut down before he reaches his goal? And will Boromir resist the lure of the ring?
Author's Note: Ok, as so many of you have asked, I have an answer. The question I get most often is: 'is Buffy immortal/mortal or will she live as long as Aragorn?'. Now for the answer: Buffy is mortal. I quote 'no vampire slayer ever died of old age'. Ever wonder why? Well, besides the early death thing anyway. The way I see it, they can be killed, they can fall sick, but the ageing thing I'll leave somewhat undefined. Buffy will get a 'reward' courtesy of Galadriel. You can wait 'til the tail end of this fic for that but as I have said earlier, the whole Buffy ageing thing will be cleared up in a couple of chapters. If I had to label her, I'd label her as akin to the Númenóreons, long lived people who only show their age when they are near the end of their lives. I do hope that clears things up a bit.
And wow! These chapters are all running away on me! They're all getting longer! This one's over nine thousand words! Yay me!
Review responses:
Andrea35 - blushes you really flatter me! I'm happy you got your computer back! Eru knows I'd go mad without mine! Joss Whedon? And moutons? You sure know how to sweet-talk a girl! Honey, if you hate that cliffhanger… oooh, you're gonna kill me for this one… after all, what's some innuendo compared to malicious action? And Buffy will have her own little adventures but never fear, Aragorn will return at some point.
Anna - Yep, I'm on a roll at the moment. As my beta said, my muse is working overtime! I'm getting them out faster lately so let's hope it lasts! Buffy will be a long time wiggled into Aragorn's heart before Mr. Clueless realises it. Denethor will taste the wrath of the slayer eventually and with very good reason…
Catlimere - Elrond, bald? That would be a sight to see! Yeah, Buffy's gonna really suffer thanks to the Aragorn/Arwen. They're lucky she likes them or they'd be slayer-chow. Denethor is out of control at the moment! Slandering, conspiracy to murder, excessive jealousy, a personality disorder, overzealous rivalry and a tendency to annoy people are pretty much his attributes. Leave matchmaking to the twins if it comes to that! Oooh, the Ar/L! You're only the second person to mention that! Yeah, I think Elrond would collapse from relief. At least until Glorfindel ever so helpfully points out that between them both, Arwen and Legolas would create one super-hellion if they ever had a child! Buffy will notice her good 'preservation' shortly but will hold her tongue until she gets to one who can give her answers. And yes, big surprise for her. As for the Dúnedain, Halbarad could be a possibility but it's so hard writing such minor characters that Tolkien didn't see fit to elaborate on! LOL!
Charmedfanatic3000 - Arwen has met Aragorn when he was twenty. A lovesick twenty. Her opinion of him is not gonna be swayed towards love until they meet up in Lórien, which is coming up shortly.
Delphine Pryde - when is Denethor ever up to anything good?
Gaul1 - no betrayal, she isn't in love with him yet. Elrond will be kept informed by an outside source(s).
Haley - I totally agree with you. I used to really like Buffy/Legolas pairings but then the site was flooded with them…
Herald-Mage Brianna - I think that Erestor, Glorfindel, and Elrond would take a very long and timely vacation in Lothlórien. After giving Haldir orders to shoot his offspring and their friends on sight!
Jennzabell - Théoden - married. Unfortunately. That would be a cool rivalry though. And then again, he was widowed…. Interesting idea! Kudos to you! It's most definitely original! And yes, Buffy will move on after she believes that she has no chance with Aragorn. I loved your description of Elrond! 'Lord of Manners' indeed! And driving Aragorn mad with suspicion?! You're evil! I like that though!
Jess aka BRTW - It might have been their first kiss but they've got a long way to go yet!
Malfeus - I do take some stuff from the book, which is mostly said in my author's notes at the bottom if it's something not everybody might be familiar with but I do take some liberties with the book-verse. I tend to lean towards a combination of book-verse and movie-verse to suit my story, all with my own little twists.
Meria - The next chapter of 'a light to you' is under way….
N/A - the chivalry thing kinda prevents Aragorn from thinking naughty. At least that's what he tells himself…
Pam - Thanks so much! You're so very complimentary! I'll have to make sure my head still fits through the door! Thanks for your comments on the pairings, they were encouraging and you're the first person to comment on the Ar/L sideline! Well done! And as for Aragorn and Buffy being amazing in the end, just wait until they're both at Helms Deep! Buffy's not the type to stand on ceremony when she doesn't have to! As for the Lórien comment, I stand by it. I think if the Lady hadn't been expecting the Fellowship, dear ol' Haldir would have disposed with one dwarf-shaped pincushion!
rogue-angel82 - Buffy will not be another Éowyn. Éowyn goes off and sneaks around in war and then marries Faramir. Buffy's a more upfront girl. If she thought Aragorn was free, then she'd let him know in no uncertain terms what she wanted. Plus, all the cute guys from the movie are either babies or haven't been born yet and if another mortal went after one of Elrond's children, I think he'd really try and kill her. Legolas will be introduced in a couple of chapters, and from then on will play an important role in the story.
Saint Maverick - I think this is pretty fast for an update! At least for me anyway.
ShawThang - if you think Denethor's evil, watch what he does in this chapter! Yes, Buffy does think about her friends in Sunnydale and feels bitter about their betrayal. But to her mind, she'll never see them again and it only hurts her to dwell on them. Not to mention, it's been about eight years since her arrival in ME so time does heal somewhat. The effects of their betrayal on her will become more apparent as the War of the Ring progresses. Poor Boromir, the guy won't know what hit him…
Sorrow1 - What's the fun in writing fanfiction if you can't meddle with the story?
Star - sighs I just can't escape the question of Buffy's ageing, can I? The time has come I suppose, to drop a few more crumbs so to avoid answering every review the same, please look at the author's notes for your answer.
And major thanks to:
Aleviel, Batgirl Beyond, DragonStar, fastpilot, Little Red Rabbit, Mari, Night-Owl123, Romisep (thanks for the heads up!), tater2, Tkiwi,
CHAPTER SEVEN: THE BABY DANCE
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If you reveal your secrets to the wind you should not blame the wind for revealing them to the trees.
- Kahlil Gibran
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Rivendell. 2978, TA.
"As Dol Amroth is so close to Minas Tirith, we thought we would pay a visit to our dear brother…" Elladan casually explained to his bemused father.
"And darling Buffy as well…"
"We really must make sure the two are alright…"
"And that dear Estel has not gotten himself killed yet." Elrohir finished, mimicking his brother's all too innocent expression.
Elrond sighed, "I have known you too long ionnath-nin, to believe a single word of that. You seek to make mischief as well as visiting kith and kin. I know not what you have planned, but judging by your past exploits, it is not something Gondor will appreciate."
"Ada!" Elrohir exclaimed, mock scandalised, "You know we would never perform such a breach of decorum and dignity. How can you think we would besmirch the name of our house?"
"Because muindyr-nin," Arwen chimed in, "We know you too well and you have been wreaking havoc since before you could walk. Ada is right to be apprehensive."
"But I will not hinder your going," Elrond said, "I would just ask that you do not compromise Thorongil's or Eliza's positions in Minas Tirith." he said, emphasising the duo's aliases.
"We will be as fleet as a Wood-Elf hunting a Dwarf," Elladan said with a snicker, "Though we shall try not to land Estel in the dungeons!"
Elrond's eyes rolled upwards to the heavens, silently asking for strength to put up with his two hyperactive sons, who still behaved like elflings even thought they were approaching their three thousandth year.
"Well then brothers, I have a request to make of you," Arwen said in a tone that brooked no refusal, not that the twins refused her overmuch as they normally doted on their little sister. At least when they were not fighting like a horde of wargs anyway.
"What is it thel neth?" they chorused, glaring at each other slightly when they realised they had spoken as one again. This time, unintentionally.
"I bid you to carry a letter and a package to Buffy. Do not think that I do not know that you will take joy in harassing her during your stay. She should get some reward for putting up with the two of you."
The gwenyn smiled at that, not denying her words, "Aye, we will do it. What shall you send?"
"A letter from me, and the standard that I have made for her. Daernaneth said that it would please her to finally be recognised as one of Middle Earth, to be recognised as would one who had been born here. And to show her that she does have a place in this world."
"An excellent idea, daughter," Elrond praised, "Though do add that if she could try to not arouse any more of Aragorn's suspicions, 'twould be easier for me to dissuade him from trying to discover her secret."
"Adar," Elladan said with mock seriousness, "The day that Buffy starts acting 'proper' is the day that Glorfindel finds a Balrog he can't slay. To speak plainly, never."
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Minas Tirith, 2978, TA.
"I feel like I should have a great idea right now. But I don't!" Buffy muttered to herself, wondering how in Arda she'd gotten roped into this mess.
Lady Finduilas, heavily pregnant with her first child had gone into labour, the very thought of how she'd gotten that way sent shivers of disgust down Buffy's spine, and waves of pity for the poor, poor woman.
Unfortunately, Buffy had been roped in by that pig with the lama up his ass, Denethor, to play midwife to Finduilas.
Buffy did not do babies!
What did she know about delivering babies?! A fat load of nothing! And as there was no epidurals or nice painkillers here, Finduilas was in a considerable amount of pain.
The very sight of it was nearly enough to make sure that Buffy let no man touch her again. Ever!
She felt like she was on a sinking ship, and the captain of said boat had already dived overboard. Taking the only life raft with him.
She was up to her elbows in blood, not a new thing for her but a most definitely new way of acquiring said stains. She had one crying, panting and screaming woman looking at her like she believed that Buffy knew what she was doing. And one baby about to come any minute now.
She was going to kill Denethor. Slowly. Very, very slowly.
And so after a few hours of near panic by both unwitting midwife and the mother, one little boy was born. Red faced, squalling, and covered in gunk.
Buffy was forced to clean him and hand him to the exhausted mother. That was the nice part. The not so nice part was having to listen to Denethor's proud boasts about his virility. Buffy wasn't entirely sure whether she wanted to get sick or deck the man again. After what Finduilas had just gone through, Buffy was positive his wife wouldn't mind some payback.
And that was how Boromir, son of Denethor, came into the world.
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Alone in the steward's private sitting room, Aragorn watched Ecthelion pace the room before finally sinking into a seat wearily. "Are you alright, my lord?" Aragorn asked in concern.
Ecthelion sighed, then looked at him intently, "I will be frank with you Thorongil," he said quietly, "I have not many years left to me in this world but in the time I do have I would see things put to right."
"You have done much good for Gondor in your time," Aragorn tried to reassure him, "What comes after cannot be your responsibility, but that of your son's."
"Aye, Denethor will come after me, but I fear that pride of his will not benefit Gondor. In truth, capable man though he is, I would have preferred to see you rule than him."
Aragorn barely veiled his shock at Ecthelion's words, never before had he openly said he didn't think Denethor could be a good steward.
The grey-haired man continued, "I know what you would say to such a thing and as much as modesty becomes you, the deeds you have accomplished do not lie. I would have you assure Gondor's safety, my captain and what's more I would see you with an heir."
"I know not what to say. Why do you speak so?" Aragorn said cautiously, unsure as to where this conversation was going.
"Gondor is losing more ground with every passing year. The Dark Lord builds his strength, and eventually his armies will sweep down on what little of Gondor we will still hold. And I know already that we cannot match the numbers he will gather. My son, for all that he thinks he can, will not be able to stop them. The White City will fall ere the end if it is left in his hands. What I ask of you is a great burden, but I think, not one that you have not taken up already."
"What would you have me do?"
"The people will need leaders they can trust, not a man who will lock himself away in his lore books and trinkets, they will need someone to believe in." the aged steward said, his tone strangely gentle, "Ever have you been the man that I wished my son could be and if I could have you as my heir I would. And I have decided that unless Denethor proves himself worthy, I shall."
Aragorn reeled back in shock, "You would what?!"
"I do this for the good of Gondor," Ecthelion said with a hard edge, the lines on his face looking like they were carved in stone, "Gondor must survive. Already we are struggling, and if this realm falls, then Sauron extends his borders and his might beyond what any other free realm can counter. I refuse to let this happen!"
"You cannot just put me in Denethor's place!" Aragorn cried, "No one will accept it! And what is more, I do not want it!"
"Then for putting you in this position, I am sorry, but I will not name Denethor as my heir until I can be sure his own ambitions do not include the too long empty throne! Little Boromir shall be my heir if I decree, and I shall have you as regent if too many dissenters object to you being my heir. Not that they will, you have won the hearts of the people and that is worth more than simply bloodlines when it comes to ruling!"
"I cannot do this! I do not want this!" Aragorn exclaimed, rising to his feet.
He turned as if to leave but Ecthelion's cold voice stopped him. "You swore fealty to me Thorongil, and never have I asked you about your past. This is not a request but an order."
"Ecthelion," Aragorn said firmly, "Ever have I respected you but I will not do this. I cannot do this."
"You would go against my orders, and my heart's wish?"
"I would not have you make a mistake. My time in Gondor is ending," Aragorn said, "I shall not be here five years hence. I realise that you are desperate to see Gondor's rise but 'twill not be me that does it."
Ecthelion looked defeated as Aragorn finished speaking. Weariness and sorrow showed in the slumped shoulders, the downcast head. "Have more trust in your son Ecthelion. He might prove himself worthy yet. But you will never know unless you let him try."
"You say you are to go. It seems I am to lose my best captains."
"Only one, and one who can be replaced."
Ecthelion actually chuckled softly at that, a sort of black humour coming over him, "I would not have labelled you for one so dense Thorongil. You shall leave, and your lieutenant shall follow."
"Eliza?" Aragorn asked in surprise, "I do not see why. She would be the logical choice for my replacement."
"For all you keen sight, you are truly blind in some instances Thorongil. Whatever her reasons, Eliza guards you. Since she arrived she has watched you. I would not be surprised to find the only reason for her being here was because you were. In fact, I would also not be surprised if she felt more than friendship for you."
Aragorn really did not know what to make of that. On one hand, it confirmed that Eliza was most definitely up to something, and not using her real name either. On the other, he had thought that they had both stayed firmly within the bounds of friendship since their ill-fated, never mentioned, kiss two years ago.
And Ecthelion's revealed plans were surprising to say the least. He had lingered here too long. He'd promised to stay until the threat to Gondor from the Corsairs was nullified and to that he would hold. Unfortunately, this evening's incident had highlighted the need for speed in his endeavours.
Everything was falling apart too quickly now. When had it come to this?
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"Thorongil is planning on leaving soon," Ecthelion began without preamble as soon as Buffy shut the door behind her, "He has rejected my offer to be my heir and I despair of him ever claiming the throne if he won't even accept stewardship or regent for Boromir!"
"I think he blames himself for Isildur." Buffy said, "Not to mention it must be hard to step up and go 'hey, I'm the king. Let's disregard the last thousand years and bow down to me, shall we?' Also, there's a war coming and it's a lot easier to get stuff done if you're not buried in paperwork."
"But Gondor needs him now!" Ecthelion said desperately, "Denethor, once he is steward, he will never willingly hand over rule of the city to Thorongil! I can try to keep Denethor from the sceptre if Thorongil had but agreed to be regent but without it, Denethor will succeed me!"
"Then he'll just have to deal with that problem when it comes. You were wrong to push him. If the Dark Lord found out that he was alive, not nice and dead like he thought, he'd do almost anything to kill him and then wouldn't we all be in trouble?!"
"I suppose you are right," he said, calming down and taking a sip of his tea, "But it does not mean that this pleases me. I am to lose you as well once Thorongil goes, am I not?"
"Yeah, it tends to go with being his beleaguered bodyguard," Buffy said offhandedly, "I owe you for the heads up by the way. Dear old Thorongil obviously wasn't planning on telling me about his imminent departure! And it's not like he's fit to be left alone! Please! Without me he'd probably end up taking a guided tour of Mordor, probably with Nazgûl airlines too!"
Ecthelion did not even pretend to understand half of what she said. He had learned long ago that Eliza often spoke in a dialect he'd never heard in all his years in Middle Earth. "Then how, pray tell, do you plan to follow him without telling him of your task?"
"Don't have a clue!" Buffy said airily, "It's a bridge I'll cross when I come to it. I've always been better improvising than with all that nasty planning."
"You will not tell him of your feelings?" Ecthelion asked mildly, watching her reaction carefully.
"He already knows I consider him a combined friend and pest," she replied. "What more is there?"
"Perhaps love?" he suggested slyly, studiously looking at his teacup, "You would be good for him. At least you would keep him alive and well until he claims his throne."
"He's in love with someone else, and if you mention anything to him I will have your guts for garters, Lord Steward or not!"
"He will need a queen that can help him get and keep his throne!" Ecthelion exclaimed, "Gondor's nobles will not take well to a claimant for the winged crown after all this time, they will try to gain power out of it! He will need someone to keep the wolves at bay. And they already know and respect you!"
"No, the soldiers respect me. The nobles as you call them fear me. And think that I have altogether too much influence with you."
"You can't hide it from him forever."
"I've managed to be secret identity girl for a good while now, haven't I? Don't take this the wrong way, but please mind your own business. I get enough grief as it is without you trying to play matchmaker. I can take care of myself. And as much as I don't want to admit it, so can Thorongil. Keep your nose out of it, or next thing you know there'll be two swords heading your way. I'm quite good when it comes to throwing swords. Scared lots of little Watchers that way."
Ecthelion could only shake his head in absolute bewilderment, and no small amount of wonder at the stubbornness that both Thorongil and Eliza displayed. Wherever they went next, he almost pitied any poor unsuspecting fool that gainsaid them.
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Denethor eyed the package in his hand with no small semblance of glee. He had waited long for this and finally, his chance had now come. The little vial of powder in his hands was to be the key to his triumph and ensuing rise to power.
His father may be blind to Gondor's great need, but he was not. He would not have Sauron have his kingdom. His father might not think he knew, and had obviously decided not to trust him with it, but he knew what his father hid in his tower, fearing to use it.
The palantír would be of much use to him when he got his hands on it. He would be known as the Steward that held back the Dark Lord.
All that was needed was for the line of kings to be ended…
He had been merciful, he knew, a swift death that was relatively painless was much more humane than the torture the man would have endured at the hands of the Dark Lord who hunted him. If had wanted to pay Thorongil, no, Aragorn, back for all these years of humiliation it would have been very little work to leak to the servants of Sauron that one heir of Isildur yet lived.
In the end, Aragorn should be thankful. If he was lucky, he might never know what had struck him down at all…
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In his chambers, Aragorn sat sprawled in a comfortably stuffed armchair, sipping some hot mulled wine as he debated with himself. What Ecthelion had said had startled him, but 'twas not the thought of being his heir or regent that had sent him into this fit of brooding. Rather, 'twas his words about Eliza, who, if he admitted it to himself, was the first woman he had felt anything but pure lust for since Arwen Undómiel.
Ecthelion's words echoed in his mind, 'You shall leave, and your lieutenant shall follow… Whatever her reasons, Eliza guards you. Since she arrived she has watched you. I would not be surprised to find the only reason for her being here was because you were. In fact, I would also not be surprised if she felt more than friendship for you.'
He had not believed him at first when he said she still had feelings for him. She had but once shown him any sign that she was interested in him as anything other than a friend, and that had been under the influence of wine at the time.
He really was not sure what to make of this revelation now. He loved the Lady Evenstar, from the very first time he saw her and her image had helped comfort him during some of his darkest moments.
But Elrond's words to him so many years ago still haunted him, 'She is of lineage greater than yours, and she has lived in the world already so long that to her you are but as a yearling shoot beside a young birch of many summers. She is too far above you. And so, I think, it may well seem to her.'
Elrond was right. He usually was. He had set his eyes on a treasure that he could never attain. And even if it was, to pursue it was to seek to sunder forever the family that had raised him. There was no respite from the doom of Men, and for Arwen, Elrond's daughter, to choose such a thing would mean forever forsaking the Undying Lands and her people, and to never see her mother, the Lady Celebrían again. For when mortals died, their spirits passed beyond this world to a place that Elf-kind could not follow.
To love Arwen Undómiel was to know heartache. But to be loved by Arwen Undómiel was to condemn her to death, and worse, a death that should never have been hers.
She lived with all the youth and grace of the Eldar. Who was he to take that from her even if he dared?
He may love her but she would never return his affections. He had waited long and passed through many trials, maybe it was time for him to put a fool's hope aside and look more to reality.
If Eliza did care for him as more than a friend, then it would be no hardship to him to see where it led. After all, she was arguably one of the most fascinating people he had ever met. 'Twas not often someone managed to keep their past secret from him for so long, with Elrond being the notable exception, and however grudgingly, he had to have a lot of respect for her over that.
And as much as it was thought improper, he was not immune to her other charms. What she lacked in stature, she more than made up for in personality. He thought that even Lord Elrond himself might have trouble trying to control Eliza. And considering the fact that he had reared two of the most atrociously annoying but loveable hellions to ever exist in Arda, that was something.
She was prideful, often self-depreciating, intelligent, bright, bubbly and deadly with or without weapons. She was, in all, a lovely, unique woman.
He was attracted to her and it was high time to see where it could go.
His dream of Arwen was over without having come to pass, but he might very well have a new dream if things worked out alright.
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"Suilaid mellon nîn," Aragorn greeted her as she pored over some supply invoices from the armourers. They were alone in the meeting room, and she looked up when he spoke, curiously noting the use of Elvish. He had long since pretended to give up asking how she learned it, but he seldom used it with her except when he didn't want to be overheard or when there was a serious conversation in the works.
"Suilaid Thorongil," she replied before returning to her invoices.
"I would speak to you hiril nîn, about a serious matter," he said, taking a seat across from her.
"By all means, hir nîn," she said, "And you can be the one to tell Ecthelion why our men haven't gotten their new armour yet because you were distracting me!"
"Forgive me if I seem rude Eliza, but why have you not sought a hervenn yet?"
Her eyes narrowed and her scowl would have been enough to give a Balrog second thoughts, "A bit rude? Why not go the full hog while you're at it, Master Nosy?! I do not have a husband because I. Do. Not. Want. Or. Need. One." she said slowly, enunciating each word like she was talking to a particularly slow child.
"I am sorry for offending you, my lady," Aragorn said formerly, "But I wanted to know if you would be adverse to someone courting you."
Her eyes widened almost comically and she gaped at him for a few moments, giving him some amusement, "Courting?… me?" she choked out, "Who?" she looked at him and if he thought she looked shocked before, it was nothing compared to how she looked now. "You?!" she almost screeched and Aragorn was forced to reconsider if this had been a good idea.
Nodding in answer to her question, he watched her as she digested that information, "You… oh G.. - Eru! You… and me?! What are you thinking? Were you thinking? You don't like me that way! I mean, you totally blew me off the last time and now you're here?! You're not drunk again, are you?" she asked suspiciously.
"Nay Eliza, I am not drunk but I do believe you have feelings for me and I think I might have some for you. I would see how well we would go together and came to see if you would be amenable to me courting you. I know none of your kin, if you have any, and so must take the matter directly to you."
Buffy felt her heart sink, Aragorn didn't read minds, which meant that crazy old coot Ecthelion must have been gossiping. Which also meant that he either sent Aragorn to do this or guilt-tripped him into doing this. He might like her but he didn't love her. Arwen still had a firm grip on his heart.
And friend or no, she wasn't going to play second fiddle to anyone! She'd had enough of men, and vampires, walking and then stomping all over her heart. All her built up rage at her situation came to the fore and poor Aragorn was going to pay for it.
"My Lord Thorongil," she said equally formal and in quite a chilly tone, "I am not some plaything to be picked up and discarded at whim!" Whoa, she sounded like Elrond in lecture mode, but hey, channelling the 'Lord of Manners' was fun!
"Perhaps I would have considered it if you had been sincere but you really couldn't give a damn about me beyond friendship and quite frankly, I find that pretending otherwise is insulting! Ecthelion had a word with you too I see and obviously he did a better job of nudging you into action. You've done your duty, and probably had a good laugh while doing it too, so you can go back to him and say you did what you were supposed to by messing with little lovesick B.. - Eliza! I had thought you were better than that, Thorongil, than to play with someone's head this way! I'm ashamed at you, to come in here, in love with someone else and then say you wanna go out with me! Well forget it! I've had enough of men and their stupid games!"
Grabbing a nearby pitcher of water, she upended it all over a nonplussed and soon sputtering ranger. "Take that!" she said, feeling utterly vindictive and very mad, "Maybe that will teach you something!"
She then stormed out, the door slamming into the wall as she threw it open, fuming so much that Aragorn half expected to see steam pouring off her, and through the now widely flung door, he saw her nearly bowl over a startled servant before she stomped off down the hall.
Dripping water, he stood and wondered where in Arda that outburst had come from and what had he done to anger the Valar that they felt he deserved to be the recipient of it.
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'Twas under the cover of nightfall that Elladan and Elrohir snuck into the city. They had great plans for their stay here, however short it might be and were in high spirits when they decided to visit their foster brother first.
Climbing through the window, after all what was a few stories to Elves of the twins' calibre?, they crept up on their soundly sleeping brother.
With a likeness of mind that only twins could share, they glanced at each other and identical wicked smirks curved two identical mouths. "After you tôren," Elladan said courteously, "I will be in the second wave."
Elrohir looked like a cat who'd just caught sight of a juicy mouse as he prowled forward and then with an utterly gleeful luck catapulted himself onto the bed. The sudden jolt and the feel of something falling on top of them roused Aragorn to wakefulness and he tried to sit up, being prevented by some moving bulk, leaving him to flail around for some sort of weapon.
A second later, the weight was gone and there was a cold pitcher of water poured over him for the second time that day. "Ai!" he exclaimed in shock as he and his bed were drenched. He had barely spluttered out the word before he was confronted by two madly laughing Elves, in near hysterics due to his predicament, "Ai!" Elladan gasped out between laughs, "Nîn tithen tôr, you really are too old for such accidents. What shall the maids say when they come to find sopping wet sheets!"
This thought apparently entertained him a lot as he burst into fits of mirth again. Beside him, Elrohir wasn't much better.
"Elladan, Elrohir," Aragorn said icily as he squeezed the water out of his hair, "What did I do to displease adar that he set the dreaded gwenyn on me?"
"We were but travelling to Dol Amroth and we thought to visit you while we were here." Elrohir said innocently. Too innocently.
"By tormenting me, muindor?" Aragorn snapped, "'Tis the second time this day that I have been drenched and my temper was not faring well after the first time. Tell me, why should I not go for my sword now and be rid of you? I'm sure ada would understand, he always said that one day you would drive someone too far and in their madness they would kill you!"
"You wound me Estel!" Elladan said with a look of mock hurt, staggering back while clutching his chest, "Did you hear him Elrohir? He wishes us dead! Ai, the pen neth has become shockingly cruel!"
"Well, I was the one who got wakened so rudely El!" Aragorn said angrily, rising out of the bed to look for some dry sleep clothes, "You should be apologising to me!"
"Saes muindor! We apologise only when ada makes us at sword point! You are most assuredly not ada so we do not have to listen to you!" Elladan teased in an annoying sing-song voice.
"You always were crabby when woken from a nap," Elladan said casually, strolling throughout the room and poking at anything that caught his fancy.
"Have you any real business or are you just here to harass me into committing murder?" Aragorn asked as he pulled on a new tunic.
"Nay, 'tis but a social call tithen Estel. We feared you would be lonely in this city of men."
"After all who wouldn't miss two such charming Edhil as us?" Elladan said cheekily. "Now I believe you said you were drenched twice. Do tell us who did this deed so we can go kill them for copying our long tried and true pranks!"
"Since you did the deed last, 'tis you who is copying, muindor," Aragorn reminded them, "And 'twas Eliza, the lieutenant I wrote to ada about and who you seem to know. She was in a worse temper than a dragon with his treasure hoard stolen today, for what reason I know not, save that I bore the greater part of her wrath."
"It sounds much like her indeed. But what did you do?" Elrohir asked, sensing a hidden story behind this tale.
Aragorn refused to look at them, "Nothing that is any business of yours, muindyr-nin."
"That good a tale then muindor? Obviously 'tis most interesting." Elrohir surmised. "Keep your secrets if you will but for now you will sit and regal us with the tale of your life here in Gondor. And if you can recite the part in which Eliza punches this Denethor, in great detail I might add, then we might not stay to frighten the servants."
-------------------
The next morn, the twins while having left Aragorn's chambers, still prowled the shadows of Minas Tirith. They had yet to deliver Arwen's missives to Buffy and they wished to see how their brother and the Vampire Slayer got on. After all, if Aragorn and Buffy joined with them, Arwen and Legolas, they'd outnumber the trio of their adar, Glorfindel and Erestor two to one.
If the trio had been shaking before, they would run screaming for the hills at those odds.
And as for Buffy, that girl had some very devious ideas in that little head of hers. All of which the twins wanted to extract. Not to mention, she could hold off Glorfindel if he decided to try to kill them again.
(Last time it had been Arwen who had put herself in Glorfindel's path to save her brothers. Considering she was an absolutely adorable and precocious half-grown elfling at the time, Glorfindel had duly given in to her demands to make daisy chains. According to Arwen, the Balrog Slayer did not like watching people cry. He said it made him feel uncomfortable. Especially when the Lady Celebrían was breathing down his neck, waiting to blame him and then flay him for causing Arwen's displeasure!)
And so, being careful to keep out of sight and sensing range of their Dúnadan brother and the Vampire Slayer, they each silently and carefully trailed one of their targets for the day.
And so 'twas early afternoon when Buffy and Aragorn's, and hence the twins, paths crossed.
"Eliza!" Aragorn called to her as she passed him in a hallway. Overlooking the fact that she was ignoring him profusely, he swiftly caught up with her and placed himself directly in her path. She tried to go around him but he deftly blocked her every attempt.
"Get out of my way Thorongil, or else I'm gonna land you flat on your back! And none too gently either!" she snarled, still not over her ire at him, and even if she had been, still willing to keep up the pretence of anger so that he wouldn't decide that this new 'duty' was accomplishable. She was not going to stand for being a pity-date of convenience!
"I would talk to you Eliza," he answered calmly.
"Well I don't wanna talk to you!" Buffy said sugarily, "Now clear out of the way or get some broken bones!"
Deciding to ignore the threats, Aragorn grabbed her by the arm and hauled her into the nearest empty room, away from the curious ears of onlookers. Swiftly closing the door behind him, he didn't notice the cloaked twins trying to find a way of seeing what was going on without attracting too much attention.
"Any suggestions tôren?" Elladan asked, his curiosity ignited by the strange scene they had just witnessed.
"We are on the ground floor so I say the window would be ideal for spying on the pyn neth. Now quick before we miss anything!"
Their keen hearing and sight afforded them a good view of the room from a position which no ordinary mortal would ever be able to achieve. Trying to stay upright whilst not making an obvious lump in the curtains would have been galling to them if they were not used to spying. Trust Aragorn to pick one of the most cantankerous rooms in the citadel!
.
.
"May the flames of Udûn take you Aragorn!" Buffy exclaimed as the door slammed, "Are we resorting to manhandling now? 'Cos if you're that eager for a beating, all you had to do was ask!"
"Peace, mellon nîn," Aragorn said, "I meant you no harm! But we must talk this through if we are to work together!"
"You're a jerk. I'm mad. I think that about covers it," Buffy snapped, crossing her arms over her chest. She looked at Aragorn in perplexity before her eyes narrowed into slits, "What in Arda are you smirking for now?!"
"Perhaps because I find your temper amusing!"
That shut her up, for a moment at least, "You what?!" Buffy cried, "Excuse me buddy, but this temper makes orcs run away from me. Have you got a death wish? Because I am so close to fulfilling it at the moment."
"I sincerely did not mean to offend you in any way Eliza," he said placidly, determined to say his part before she actually tried to kill him. "I realise that I have angered you by asking to court you and I come here asking for us to return to the way we were before my imprudent question."
"So you just wanna forget all about it?" Buffy said, "Works for me. I wasn't looking forward to explaining your brutal death to Ecthelion."
Aragorn smiled, a relieved smile, and Buffy felt a stabbing pain in her heart. So she was that undesirable, huh? The man had managed to make her feel lousy without even trying. Still, she had to admit that if Arwen went with it, she was going to be one lucky woman.
A flash of insight came to her and she spoke the words unbidden, "Watch your back Elessar. A viper in your midst rears to strike."
Aragorn jerked back in shock, "What did you say?"
Buffy shook her head to clear it, "I don't rightly know. What's an Elessar anyway?" she said, playing clueless and still shaken, Aragorn left, wondering why she had called him that.
.
.
As Buffy left the room, the twins tumbled into it.
Eyeing their very inelegant landing and swiftly discerning the cause, Elladan spoke menacingly, "What did you do?"
"Why do you automatically assume it was something I did?" Elrohir protested, getting off his brother and managing to elbow him in the stomach while he was at it.
"Elrohir!" Elladan snapped.
"Alright, alright, I did it." Elrohir admitted, "How was I to know the curtain would come away from the wall like that?"
"Perhaps by using your brain, if you have one," his twin answered. "Now please tell me you witnessed that rather enlightening conversation as well as I?"
"Yes, 'tis most interesting muindor. Aragorn and Buffy? 'Twas not something I had expected."
"Ada will be overjoyed. He will try and shove poor Buffy into wedding clothes as soon as he gets his hands on her." Elladan said, eyes crinkling in amusement as he thought of his formidable sire chasing or being chased by and enraged Vampire Slayer.
"Aye, but they were agreeing not to court, dear brother. So I say ada would be overhasty to do that."
"She has a fancy or more for him. He has a fancy for her. This would keep him away from Arwen! If you think for one second that ada will not support this move fully, then I cannot condone calling you a son of Elrond."
"If it keeps our thel mell numbered amongst the Eldar, then it has my full support. But I do think that a visit to dear Buffy is called for. Shall we see if our suspicions are right? After all who can stand for long against the combined interrogation of the gwenyn o Imladris?
-------------------
Buffy's spine stiffened and she stopped removing her outer tunic and instead hefted her daggers. With lightning speed she had buried them into the wall, pinning the sleeves of the invader to the stone.
A roundhouse kick for the other missed but a swift punch to the gut had intruder number two sprawled face first on the bed.
Getting a decent look at the one pinned to the wall and eyeing her daggers askance and more than a little reprovingly. "Oh by the Valar!" she exclaimed, "Elladan?" Turning to look at the now recovered bed flopper she said, "Elrohir?"
"At your service," Elladan said sarcastically, "Is this the way Ladies treat their guests in Gondor? I thought ada had drilled the need not to attack visitors into you."
Removing the daggers, she waggled them under his face, "Elrond is not here so who cares? Now what are you both doing skulking around my bedchamber at this hour? I don't do threesomes if that's what you came to ask."
"We came to visit you while we were in the area and to bring you some missives from Arwen." Elrohir explained, ignoring the bawdy humour.
"Oh! Gimme, gimme!"
"Now is that any way to behave Buffy? What was it that ada would have said? Oh yes!" Elladan said.
"Act like a Lady, for Eru's sake, not a drunken ranger!" the twins chorused teasingly. Buffy hit them in the face with her cushions.
"Hand 'em over now or I'm gonna start slicing!" Buffy said, waving one of her daggers around threateningly.
The twins huffed and puffed but did as they were told. Buffy might not literally slice them to pieces but doing it to their clothes and thereby leaving them with only a cloak to maintain their dignity was not beyond her.
Buffy put aside the letter and package to read later when the twins were gone and safety had returned to her chambers. "Why are you still here?" she asked, when she noticed the twins seemed to be settling in for the long haul. "If anyone catches you in here, I'm gonna have a lot of explaining to do. Too much explaining."
"Oh, we just wanted to talk to you about Aragorn." Elrohir said nonchalantly.
Buffy immediately went on alert. The Twins were up to something. And that sent shivers even down Elrond's back. "Spill it boys," she demanded, "What are you up to?"
"Buffy cares for Aragorn…" Elladan said in a sing-song voice.
"Buffy's about to go for her sword," she replied in the same sing-song tone.
"Come tithen dagnir," Elrohir said soothingly, "We merely wish the best for you and when we saw that you are fighting with Aragorn, we sought to ascertain why. If you desire him, why not let him court you?"
"Because the only reason he said anything is because Ecthelion told him to. He does it out of duty and because he can't have Arwen."
"Ada would kill him if he tried. And then daernaneth and daeradar would seek to do the same. Since naneth passed over sea, they keep a close watch on Arwen."
"I don't want to talk about this, ok?" Buffy said tiredly, "It's hard enough as it is without you rubbing salt into the wounds."
"As you wish Hiril Dagnir," the twins said together.
"Diola lle Elladan, Elrohir. I am sorry for being such a grouch but it's been a long few days and I could use some piece and quiet. Or else a few orcs to use as punching bags."
"Aye, we heard about the water incident. By chance, we did the same to wake Estel when we visited him. Obviously great minds think alike." Elladan said.
Their conversation changed to talk of other things and for the next two hours, Buffy and the twins shared news and tales, and reminisced about the days of old, also known as her days in Rivendell.
And when at last came the time to leave, they both hugged her and gave her a kiss on the forehead, apparently from Arwen, and with a few words of comfort and farewell, they slipped back into the night from whence they came.
-------------------
It was with a heavy heart and a burdened mind that Buffy opened the missives from Arwen.
Opening the package first, she was surprised to see a small bundle of cloth with a note pinned to it. 'Mellon nîn, may this give you the strength to face the shadow and the courage to follow your heart and live as you wish.'
Buffy unfolded the cloth to find a standard on it. She smiled tremulously, she had confided to Arwen that she felt out of place in Middle Earth, and that once her duty to Aragorn was done, she would have nothing to carve out a life with, not even the simplest things granted to someone Middle Earth born. After all, if they won this war and they would have to if Aragorn was to take the throne of Gondor, then Galadriel and Elrond would pass over sea. 'Twas duty that held them here and once they left, the children of Elrond and a good portion of the Elves of Middle Earth would go with them. All of Buffy's Elven friends would be gone, and she would be alone. Again.
But what Arwen had gifted her with was a last name. The standard was beautifully sewn and embroidered with a bright sun, it's rays shaped to look like the facets of jewels, done in metallic thread. The Elvish inscription 'Anormîr' was sewn underneath. It meant 'Jewel of the Sun' in Westron and it touched Buffy deeply.
Happily putting aside the precious piece of folded cloth, she reached for the letter and for the rest of the night, was content to read it and think of happier, more carefree, times.
-------------------
Having lingered around for the morning, waiting for the opportunity to present itself. And the minute he heard the bustle of one of the cook's underlings preparing to take some breakfast up to Thorongil, who had overslept and asked for it to be brought to the captains' meeting room, where he would have it while planning the next move for his company.
The powder would do its job well, being odourless and tasteless. Liberally sprinkling the poison into the fresh tea, the bread, and the scrambled eggs and a fresh pastry, making sure that it couldn't be seen.
Creeping out of the kitchens before any could see that he had been there and hastened upstairs to the meeting room. That thrice-damned man was there as expected and so he walked into the room with his usual composure.
"Thorongil," he greeted coolly, taking a seat at one of the other tables, "I have come to see if you had that armourer's report sorted yet. There is a good chance we may have to engage the Corsairs soon and the last thing I need is to have to carry the responsibility of your group because you have not enough sense to make sure they are properly outfitted."
The other man didn't give him a reply as a serving maid bustled into the room, bearing the tray of tainted food.
Eagerly, Denethor watched the man eat. 'Twas obvious he was distracted by something that he paid so little attention to his meal, but that suited his purpose perfectly. He studied one of the reports that that wench Eliza had finished while he waited for Thorongil to finish, occasionally interjecting the odd scathing comment to torment the man.
After all, if he could not laud it to the heavens that he was the one to restore glory to the line of the Stewards by getting rid of their only rival one and for all, he might as well make sure Thorongil was miserable, on this, his last day living.
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A/N: Well? What do you think? Please READ and REVIEW!
Next chapter: Aragorn lies dying… Elrond gets some interesting news… And Denethor learns what it means to earn the wrath of a slayer…. All Balrogs please evacuate the vicinity
P.S - Aragorn is gonna be delirious. Anything anyone wants him to blab out to Buffy while in such a state? I'm open to requests and opinions.
Elvish:
Ada/Adar - father
ionnath-nin - my sons
muindyr-nin - my brothers
thel neth - younger sister
gwenyn - twins
Daernaneth - grandmother
suilaid - greetings
mellon nîn - my friend
hiril nîn - my lady
hir nîn - my lord
hervenn - husband
tôren - my brother
Nîn tithen tôr - my little brother
muindor - brother
pen neth - young one
Saes - please
Tithen - little
Edhil - Elves
pyn neth - young ones
thel mell - dear sister
gwenyn o Imladris - twins of Rivendell
tithen dagnir - little slayer
Daeradar - grandfather
Naneth - mother
Hiril Dagnir - Lady Slayer
Diola lle- thank you
Anormîr - Jewel of the Sun
Palantír - one of the seven seeing stones that were scattered throughout Gondor and Arnor during the reign of Elendil. For the last few centuries, they have been considered unsafe to use as it is believed that one of them is in the possession of Sauron.
Dol Amroth - the royalty of Dol Amroth are believed to have an Elven foremother in their line.
P.P.S - Does ANYBODY know how to deal with this new caching system of this site? 'Cos pages are like half downloading for me and none of the usual tricks to get the full page work! can anybody help me before i pull out all my hair? Kudos to anyone who can!
