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: thanks for the reviews! This chapter is somewhat shorter than the previous few because this chapter originally wasn't planned to end where it did but because the chapter was getting way too big, I split it in two! Enjoy!

Review responses:

Anna - Aragorn has his doubts, which are going to be put to rest in the next chapter or two. And jealousy from who? Because there's going to be plenty of that going around! Lots of green eyes monsters!

Andrea35 - No, there's no prophecy about those two as yet, though it is an idea! As for Buffy going with Aragorn after he leaves Gondor, the answer starts in this chapter! Good idea about Gandalf, and yes, the Legolas meeting will be interesting. As for Aragorn's and Arwen's betrothal, definitely gonna be a dagger in the heart. The surprise is not gonna be revealed in one go, unfolding so that hopefully most people who are not me will be guessing for a while! :)

ChibiChibi - No, he's not showing any slayer traits so far. Cool idea though!

DeFox - Quick enough for you?

Eámanë Aldaríon of Rivendell - blushes madly Thank you! And cool name by the way! Sorry, couldn't kill Denethor. He has to live to be the crazy guy in RotK! :( And Gandalf will be around in a while. Thanks for the comments on the twins. I personally love stories with them in it! Námarië!

Gaul1 - No, Aragorn won't really remember anything but that won't become clear until the next chapter.

Haley - The Corsairs will be a big bunch of scaredy-cats.

Herald-Mage Brianna - Oh! Trust me if Elrond, Glorfindel and Erestor, the only ones who live in Rivendell that can restrain the twins somewhat were to abandon ship, the rest of Rivendell would join in them instead of being victims to the twins!

Jennzabell - Oh, the surprise for Buffy is ongoing and Aragorn related. Starts at the end of the chapter. Yeah, Thorongil and Eliza are really doing one helluva in the dating department! Ecthelion and Denethor's fate is next chapter. As for the connection, will be explained later! No, he doesn't remember the slayer speech. Yet.

Lady of the Wood - the answer to your question: during. If they make it that far. grins slyly

Malfeus - blushes Ahh, thanks! Reading your reviews is always nice!

N/A - No, the tether thing won't be made clear for a couple of chapters yet! Thanks for the compliments! :)

Pam - thanks for the comments on the twins! They're very fun to write! About the bond, yeah, there will be something. Just a little more than Buffy would ever have suspected though! Yeah, the twins and Elrond are troublemakers alright but just wait until Galadriel and Celeborn get in on the action! laughs evilly Thanks for all your encouragement, I actually think I can feel my head swelling as I type!

RedsLover03 - No, no memory as of yet.

Restive Nature - blushes again Thanks! Good call on Buffy and Aragorn by the way. You've really grasped the story which makes my little heart go pitter-pat! Thanks again!

SapphireOrchids - Thanks! About the Elvish, I'll start doing it after this chapter.

Super Rice Ball - 'A Light to you' is underway and no, I'm not giving up on it.

And major thanks to:

Delphine Pryde, DragonStar, Night-Owl123, Ral (thanks!), Tkiwi, Wild320,

CHAPTER NINE: WHERE EAGLES DARE

All of this chapter is set in the year 2980 of the Third Age, approximately the month of Narvinyë (January).

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"You would have me start a war?" Ecthelion asked lowly.

Aragorn paced the room like a caged tiger, grey eyes intense as he put forth his argument, "The strength of the rebels in Umbar is a great peril to Gondor, and a threat to the fiefs of the south that will prove deadly, if Sauron moves to open war." he replied, "War with the Corsairs that is over and won is better than fighting them along with every other faction the Dark Lord throws against us."

"Thorongil," Ecthelion said dryly, "If Sauron moved to open war, we would not have the strength to repel him even if he only sent his orcs to assail us. Yet, knowing this, you ask me to pull my forces away from rebuilding Gondor's strength in preparation for Sauron's strike, in order to launch an attack on an enemy I am not sure we can defeat. It is folly."

"It is the only thing that may save Gondor in the end!" Aragorn argued, "The time for being cautious has long since past. You have little left to lose in such an endeavour."

"And if the Corsairs try to overrun us?"

"Then the knights of Dol Amroth should be enough to drive them back from whence they came. The Corsairs are too great a threat to let them go unchallenged. You must act!"

"'Tis one thing to say what must be done and another thing altogether to do it." Ecthelion said, "I cannot, in good conscience, throw away the lives of men loyal to me."

"I am not asking you to. I am asking you to let me take my company to battle with the Corsairs, with the intention to strike them hard and fast, with as much stealth as we can muster, so that we may destroy their strength of arms, and hopefully, their fleet."

"Ambitious plans even for you, Thorongil," Ecthelion mused, "Though tell me this, if I say nay, would you take your company anyway? They are most loyal to you, they would heed your summons."

"I would do what must be done," Aragorn admitted, "Leaving this threat unchallenged does not sit well with me. Especially not when the consequences of such inaction could be so dire."

"And if I grant you my permission, will this be the last I see of you?" the steward said, perceptively noticing what Aragorn was loath to tell him.

"Keen are the eyes of Ecthelion!" Aragorn said with a slight laugh, "Aye, 'twould be my last sojourn for Gondor. Though you know as well as I that my time here ended nigh on two years ago. I can linger here no longer but I will face the pirates one last time ere my departure."

"Your going pains my heart, and my head tells me that if you achieve this victory, then Gondor shall not see one as such until the king comes again." He sighed heavily, "Your going shall be as the shadow falling. Denethor my son will not hold the borders, and what we hold of Osgiliath will fall. I can only hope that the White City stall stand to see such glory as may be its due restored."

Aragorn could say nothing that would make light of such predictions and so kept silent.

Long did Ecthelion sit and say nothing, but after a few minutes he nodded wearily and came to his decision, "You have my blessing in this endeavour Thorongil, my best captain, and I shall wish you well when word of your leaving comes to me. Take your company and use the fleet to carry them south. As you started, so shall you end. Leave them crippled and ruined, Thorongil. And if you know not how to do it, ask your lady, she has proved many times that she is the type that can incite riots and chaos anywhere she pleases."

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Many hours later, buried under a mound of collected and summarily discarded plans, Buffy and Aragorn took sips of their now not so warm mulled wine that they often indulged in in the chill of winter and debated where they would go next. "I still don't see why you have to plan this out like you're declaring war on Sauron," she said to him, "We're basically looking to get in, destroy as much as we can, and get right back out, right? So, if you think about it, any plan we have is going to be useless when the Corsairs get wind of us anyway. So, I think we should do this my way."

"With your little death squads?" Aragorn said with some amusement at the title she'd given them.

Buffy rolled her eyes, playfully hitting him on the shoulder, "You know perfectly well what I mean Thorongil," she admonished, "But I still think splitting the men up and giving them targets to destroy is the best bet."

"And I agree with you. But as Ecthelion reminded me, you have always been the best at inflicting damage."

"And proud of it!" Buffy gloated, "Now that that's settled though, me and you have got something to talk about."

Her expression was so serious as to set off little warning signals in Aragorn's head, "What do you wish to speak of?"

"How 'bout where you're planning on going after this?" she said blithely.

Aragorn did not even bother trying to figure out how she knew. He had learned long ago that Eliza had her own means of getting information and trying to deny anything was useless as she would make her own mind up on that point.

They had become closer than he could have believed possible over the last two years since she had pulled him back from the brink of death, but he was not about to do justice to Ecthelion's long ago predictions by letting her get any ideas of coming with him.

"Where I am going is none of your concern, save that you are the most likely choice to be promoted to my captaincy position." Aragorn said firmly.

It didn't deter her in the slightest. "Thorongil, if you think for one moment that you are getting off that easily, you've got another thing coming!" she said with all the air of one used to getting answers, "You will tell me where you're going and when, because I'm coming with you, like it or not!"

"You are not coming with me!" Aragorn exclaimed, "And my business is my own! Whether we are friends or not, my life, and all my decisions about it, are my own to make. Without interference from you!"

Buffy wasn't put off by his rudeness, "It's time for you to understand something Thorongil, as you obviously haven't figured it out yet. After hearing your family all telling me how smart you were, I had expected you to have put all the puzzle pieces together long before now."

Aragorn was puzzled himself now, and very wary, Eliza looked predatory for some reason. And talking about his family? 'Thorongil' did not have any family. "What are you talking about?"

"Your life is mine to guard," Buffy said quietly, "I was charged to do it by Lord Elrond and Lady Galadriel themselves. You go, I go. You can't get rid of me that easily, Dúnadan, I'm here to make sure no one knifes you in the back. You can come find me later when you've sorted things out but don't try to avoid me. That only makes me cranky. And a cranky me is not one you want to be arguing with."

With that, she got up and left, leaving Aragorn to totally re-evaluate their entire relationship in light of this new discovery.

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And so within a few days, Aragorn mustered his company and took his fleet down the Anduin to the harbour of Umbar, where this pivotal battle would be fought.

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Umbar, 2980, TA.

As Buffy waited with the portion of men allotted to her, her breath fogging from the cold, she fumed silently. Normally not one for patience in the first place, she'd now had to deal with Aragorn avoiding her ever since their last conversation when she'd spilled some of the beans.

That smarted, especially since she knew he was planning on taking off after this if they won, and very obviously wasn't planning on having Buffy tagging along.

And so it was that one vampire slayer had worked herself up into a towering temper and was way more than willing to unleash it on some unsuspecting pirates. She was on destructo-girl duty again, which suited her just fine.

Making things go boom and bye-bye was therapeutic.

She and her troops were loaded up like pack mules with all sorts of alcoholic beverages. Buffy's ideas for setting the quay on fire. With nowhere to run, the Corsairs would have no choice but to face the Gondorian solders. Who would, of course, be waiting for such a runner and would try and cut down the fleeing captain hooks.

Reaching out with her senses, she swiftly located Aragorn. Ever since she'd done that thing for him two years ago, she'd developed some kind of Aragorn radar, which she called her Buffy-dar, and could find him with her eyes closed.

Making sure he was ready, she vowed to keep an eye on that skulking, sneaking ranger. She wouldn't put it past him to try and get away in the excitement of victory and by the Valar, she was gonna be there waiting for him if he tried it!

Distractedly noting the signal for her group to start, Buffy started 'lets trash the Corsairs ships' round two.

Her little alcohol bombs were launched at the ships, the docks, the few buildings scattered round and pretty soon the place was ablaze quite prettily if Buffy could say so.

As she led the charge to start slicing and dicing some Corsairs, she wondered why she felt such an ominous feeling at the back of her mind.

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As Eliza played decoy to the now infuriated Corsairs, Aragorn and his men played it stealthy. Using the confusion and distraction to slip by without the pirates seeing them, they made to surround the house of the Captain of the Haven. It went without saying that to capture him would be a coup indeed as he would know much about the Corsairs plans for Gondor.

Unfortunately, their target was not in residence and the nearby Corsairs quickly spotted the new group of Gondorians in their midst.

With a curse for his ill luck, and a war cry to rally his men, Aragorn leaped into what was possibly the biggest battle of his career so far.

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The Corsair captain in charge of the personal defence of the Captain of the Havens could not believe his atrocious luck.

Blinking rapidly, he tried to convince himself that he was only having a nightmare and that She was not here, burning his vessels, killing his crew, burning his bloody docks! What, in the name of Sauron, had he done to deserve this?!

The fair-haired she-warg was back, and it was here for the kill.

Nervously eyeing the elite bodyguard, (none of his men, mind!) he wondered if he could somehow slip away and go somewhere very, very, very far away from Her. He knew that She would not leave much standing and that She would kill him if She found him. He knew what She was capable of and the very thought of it left him quaking.

He now envied his crew, who at the first sight of Her, had scattered to the four winds, running as fast as their sailors' legs could carry 'em before they met the cold steel of Her sword.

Unfortunately, he did not think that the Captain of the Havens would let him run off like that.

"Um, my lord captain, sir," he began nervously, "I'd be thinkin' that we'd better be getting out of 'ere. That… wench over yonder, she's as nasty as they come and ye'd be a fool to fight 'er. She'd be the one responsible for me losing me boats."

The Captain of the Havens, swarthy, scarred, ruthless and the most gaudily dressed man in the harbour, was surveying the damage, which was looking irreparable, with a well of growing anger. "Ye be saying that that lass would be the one who caused ye to be a coward and lose yer ships and yer men?" he asked.

He shifted timidly, "Aye, She'd be a monster, my lord! Vicious as anything! We'd best be gettin' out of 'ere."

"No, we'll be a-seeing if this 'monster' is as vicious as ye've been saying. No Corsair is goin' to run from a mere wench!"

To the underling captain, his lord's words sounded like a death knell or perhaps the foreshadowing of doom to come.

"Why me?!" he moaned.

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Buffy knew something was up when a group of strangely dressed Corsairs, and by that she meant that they looked at least somewhat normal, started firing arrows at her for no apparent reason. Scrambling up the rigging, she quickly found out that she'd scaled a sinking ship. Literally.

Which meant she had to get rid of the little bowmen who weren't playing fair.

Pulling her own bow from where it was strapped to her back, she notched what arrows she had left and let them fly. Problem was, that only took care of about half of her would be assassins.

Jumping over the side of the ship, and landing on the now very precarious, and madly burning, wood of the docks, she circled around the assassins' places and managed to come face to face with a very surprised Lord of the Havens and a very familiar Corsaid captain.

"Haven't I sacked your ships before?" Buffy said as the man's eyes widened impossibly. And was he shaking?

The Captain of the Haven stared at the woman who'd appeared from nowhere like a shadow and let out a roar, "Guards!"

Buffy watched the little assassins that could as they came racing towards her. Oh, this was just great! Deciding to leave the stupid lord alone for the moment, she grabbed the junior captain as a human body shield and skedaddled back, trying to find some open space that wasn't on fire.

All around her hissed the crackling of the flames, the clash of steel meeting steel, the twanging of bows, the sound of the Corsairs' harpoons firing, and the screams and shouts of men. The harbour of Umbar was large, and as far as even her eyes could see, it was filled with men, fighting and running, and the burning boats and buildings which were falling down around their ears. The sweltering heat made it hard for most of the men to fight, fearful of being burned alive by the swift moving flames and even Buffy wasn't immune to that fear.

Somehow she didn't think slayers were built to be charred either. But on one of the boats, she spotted something through a porthole that swiftly gained her full attention. Pulling the captain after her for a bit and then tossing him into the arms of some of that stupid guards, she took off at a run for one of the burning boats. A boat, in which she had seen quite a few blonde heads looking to be freed before they went down with the ship.

And even Buffy knew that in Middle Earth, that many blondes gathered together meant Rohirrim.

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Buffy was scraped, sooty and wondering about heatstroke when she finally made it aboard the ship. Now that she was nearer, she could hear their yells for help, camouflaged earlier by the massive amounts of noise emanating from the huge battle.

Descending below deck, the ringing in her ears from the shouts soon showed her where to go. Pulling the strong metal lock off the door through brute strength, she was nearly bowled over by an avalanche of about fifty poor souls that were the Corsairs' captured slaves, forced to row their ships for the rest of their lives.

Leading the pile up were some of the Rohirrim she had spotted. Broad across the shoulders, and with the build of American football players, they'd been trying to cave in the door with no success.

Needless to say they were surprised to see their rescuer, even more surprised than Buffy who they'd nearly knocked on her rear. Hearing the ominous creaking of the burning ship, and deciding she really didn't want to be on this tub right now, she spoke swiftly and clearly. "I'm Eliza, I'm with the Gondorians. All the ships are burning so let's get out of here! Feel free to kill as many Corsairs as you like!" she shouted as she led the way out.

Buffy led the sizeable procession out and standing on the deck, was faced with a dilemma. "Okay, the gangplank is now in ashes so either try to climb the rigging or jump. Either way, get off this ship before it sinks!"

Barking out the orders with all the flair of an experienced captain, General Buffy was back in business.

Satisfied with the men's progress, she failed to see the danger coming in the form of one shaking Corsair captain who had followed her.

And so Buffy never saw the boom coming until it hit her, and with a great thud and splash, Buffy Summers was thrown overboard.

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Being flung into the water head first did nothing for Buffy's temper. Pulling herself out of the water of the harbour, she was absolutely livid. She was sopping wet, looked like a drowned rat and thanks to that pig of a pirate, her armour was gonna rust! She was going to kill him!

What was it with people always trying to drown her anyway?

Spotting the miscreant, she gave chase across the docks, swiftly catching up with the fleeing pirate and once she was in ranger, throwing one of her knives into his kneecap. He fell to the ground as his leg crumpled underneath him, allowing Buffy to plant herself in front of him, hands on her hip.

"You just had to do it, didn't you?!" she snarled, "Do you have any idea how much it's gonna cost me to get some more armour?!"

The corsair captain was shaking. Someone up there hated him. He just knew it.

In fact, it was only sheer luck that was to save him, as fifty odd, hopping mad, former slaves joined in the battle, stunning Corsairs and Gondorians alike. While her back was turned to watch the improbable display, he managed to crawl over to one of the now common gaping holes in the wooden planks, and threw himself into the ocean.

The splash caught Buffy's attention. "If you think I'm going in there again to fish you out, forget it!" she called, "There's plenty more pirates to kill round here!"

And then she decided to tag along with the group of slave-leading Rohirrim, in case they decided to get themselves killed. And quite happily, she let her anger rip through the ranks of pirates that came to meet them.

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While Buffy was off on her adventures and Buffy's men were busy destroying everything in sight, Aragorn finally got his chance. Spotting the Captain of the Haven, and seeing that his circle of guards seemed to be wholly inadequate for some reason, Aragorn gave chase.

The Captain was waving his sword around, wildly gesticulating and shouting obscenities at his men. But his thoughts quickly turned from anger at his men's incompetence back to self-preservation.

Especially seeing how easily Aragorn slew his supposedly elite guards.

Meeting him sword for sword with an angry roar, the two men battled it own on the quay. Blocking, parrying, ducking and thrusting, they danced around each other, each judging the other's skill with a blade.

The Captain of the Haven was no sluggard when it came to wielding a sword, but Aragorn had not trained with the Elves for nothing, and 'twas soon enough when he overthrew the Captain and slew him there and then.

And that turned the tide in their favour.

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The Captain of the Haven was the only man who the other Corsairs had feared enough to stay and face Buffy's wrath for, he being very close to Sauron as the rumour went. When he was slain then, many did not waste time fighting a losing battle, and gathering what little remained of their fellows as they went and abandoning even the booty they treasured so much.

And so the Gondorians had won, and such a battle it was that 'twould undoubtedly go down in song. The destruction of the Corsair's base of power was no mean feat and having surveyed the vast and mostly irreparable, at least anytime soon anyway, destruction that Eliza had devised, the victorious Captain Thorongil decided to withdraw his fleet back to Pelargir, where much celebration awaited.

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Pelargir.

At the Gondorian port of Pelargir, much revelry was underway as the joyous and triumphant men of Gondor celebrated their crushing victory over the rebels. Long did their party last but when the skies darkened, their beloved captain stood up and made an announcement that shocked every single one of company into near speechlessness.

To men's grief and wonder, Thorongil announced his intention not to return to Minas Tirith, where great honour awaited him, citing that his time here was done.

And this message did he send to the Steward Ecthelion, to be carried to him by the most senior ranking of his men, since he knew Eliza would not. "And to Lord Ecthelion say this; Other tasks now call me, lord, and much time and many perils must pass ere I come again to Gondor, if that be my fate."

And then, ignoring the dismayed calls of his men, Aragorn disappeared into his tent, only to be faced by an already packing Buffy.

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"What are you doing here Eliza?" Aragorn asked wearily.

Buffy flicked her still damp braid over her shoulder, and looked at him like he had just asked if the sun rose in the morning. "I'm packing," she said, not pausing in her task, "After all, I figure you'll want to leave pretty soon before people start begging you to stay."

"You are not coming lady!" Aragorn said angrily. Though he knew she was an exceptional warrior, the very thought of Eliza following him into Mordor chilled his heart. For some reason he did not know, and truthfully, did not want to acknowledge, he could not bear it if harm came to her because of him. 'Twas his fate to walk the wilds alone, not with the beautiful, intelligent Eliza accompanying him.

Buffy smiled disarmingly, like she was placating a child, "Oh, yes I am. I guard your back, remember? That would entail being somewhat near to you. And Denethor tried to kill me too. I've put up with looks that could kill for the past two years. To be truthful, I'm kinda grateful to be getting out of there."

"I will not allow you to come!" Aragorn said firmly, "'Tis my decision and I have already made it."

Buffy sidled up next to him, "Are you at least going to tell me where you're going?"

Aragorn gently put his hands on her shoulders and shoved her away from him, "No. This task is my own and I shall allow no other to journey with me."

"Elladan and Elrohir would no doubt have something to say about that!" Buffy said, "They said I am to follow you and guess what I'm gonna do?"

"How do you know about Elladan and Elrohir? Why should I let you come? You haven't even told me your real name or why you ever came here?"

"You never asked," Buffy pointed out, "For some reason, you didn't ask for the last couple of years and I don't think in the middle of a full, and more than a little drunk camp, is the place for such a serious talk."

She took his silence as encouragement, "Let me come with you and I'll tell you everything on the road. I promise."

Aragorn took a deep breath. It was clear to him now that she would not take no for an answer. She would disregard everything he said and follow him anyway. She was more than good enough to find him. He could not remember ever evading her for long in Minas Tirith, why should the wilds be any different?

He would not, - no, could not, let her take such a risk. Her life was important to him, more than any other friend he had made in Gondor, and he could not just stand by and let her walk with him to their deaths.

He knew she was still talking but he paid no attention to the words. Eliza would follow him no matter where he went, unless he was too long gone ere she set out. She would never think of Mordor as his destination. If she knew his family as she claimed, she would presume that he had returned to Rivendell.

She would either head for the hidden valley or return to the guarded city, but he knew how to accomplish such a goal.

But how to do it?

He had seen her take blows that would have crippled a normal man with nary a flinch. Hitting her over the head was not going to render her unconscious, no matter how much he wished it.

She had gotten angry when he had ignored her and he swiftly gave her a hug designed to look as if he was trying to calm her down. But his expert healer's hands travelled up to her back, to a point just beneath her neck, to a small hollow at the base of the skull. Before she could realise anything was amiss, he deftly applied force to the pressure point and was rewarded when she slumped into his arms.

Placing her gently on his bedroll, he knew what he had to do next.

Knowing that 'twould last only a few hours at most, he went to the healing kit he brought everywhere with him, and pulled out a couple of herbs. He swiftly made a tonic that was designed to induce deep slumber.

Spooning it through slack lips, he felt some guilt at what he had done but it was far outweighed by the sense of relief that she, at least, would be safe. The company respected her greatly and would make sure no harm came to her.

She would probably hate him for this, but he hoped one day she would understand.

From originally being a nuisance to him, she had evolved into one of three women he held close to his heart. His mother, Gilrean, the holder of his heart, Arwen and his… Eliza. Pressing a soft kiss to her temple, he bid her farewell, logic telling him that this was most likely to be the last time he would ever see her.

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That night, his men watched in silence as their beloved captain took a boat, and crossed the Anduin with nary a word as to his destination. Having said farewell to his companions on the boat, they were concerned to see the direction in which he headed.

Because when he was last seen his face was towards the Mountains of Shadows… In Mordor….

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A/N: So? Opinions please! Please READ and REVIEW!!!

Next chapter: Aragorn has his first encounter some deadly foes…. Buffy's on the warpath… and the Slayer launches an invasion of Mordor…

Elvish:

Narvinyë - Quenya for January

The guarded city/The White City - Minas Tirith. The city was once called 'Minis Anor' - 'Tower of the Sun' but it's name was changed when both Minas Ithil and Osgiliath fell.