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 Notes: Okay, to clear up some confusion I found very prevalent… the monster is not a warg. The reason why I did not specify this in the last chapter was because the explanation is given in this one! Hope that clears things up!

P.S - As school starts up again on September 1st, updates will be slower, probably once a week, and probably two or so at holidays. Sorry in advance, but as this is an exam year for me, it's unavoidable.

Review responses:

Alliana Greenleaf Halliwe - No, they're not from TTT. It's a monster of my own invention, all to be explained in this chapter! Good deduction though.

Batgirl Beyond - Fireball died a valiant death. Plus, she was getting a little old for a horse. Queue a replacement.

BuffyandDracoLover - yes, Buffy has no luck with guys!

ChibiChibi - sorry, not wargs/wolves.

Christie - Thanks! The Fellowship will be forming in about six chapters, but that's including the time Frodo healed in the House of Elrond.

Draco's Slytherin Vampiress - Welcome! And thanks! And yes, the baddies made the werewolf thing with Buffy's blood, hence the unnatural strength. And I usually update for definite at the weekends, which means Friday to Sunday.

Dreamer Child - Yes, if I had to chronicle all the thirty-four years left until the War of the Ring, this fic would end up breaking well over the one hundred chapter mark. Not to mention all the readers would die of anticipation before Aragorn and Buffy got anywhere near anything approaching a couple. And the horse died a valiant death…

EverAfter-01 - thanks! Hi boo!

Haley - No, not a warg. And yes, Gamdalf to the rescue.

Herald-Mage Brianna - considering the consequences, Elrond's reaction is always justified! :)

JeanB - Thanks! For the Elrond conversations I took most of the dialogue with Aragorn from the book, and added my own bits. And again, a lot of the Elrond/Arwen exchange came from the Return of the King movie. It was such a great scene, I couldn't resist using it! Yeah, and Buffy and Aragorn can't be joined at the hip forever, especially since Buffy might be liable to kill him if he babbles on about Arwen all day. Good call, you noticed it was not a warg! Thank you!

Jennzabell - Thanks! :) Aragorn…. He'll be smacking himself when he eventually wakes up! But Buffy's now letting him stand on his own two feet by not solving all his problems. And more mopey than dopey I think. And Aragorn will, again eventually, get his wake up call from an unexpected source. Of course that doesn't mean it'll be all plain sailing. (evil grin) And it was mostly thanks to you that Théoden got the part. Think of the ramifications for TTT. I'm kinda wary about giving Buffy a fling…. She hasn't had the best relationships with men, and with the recent line-up including Angel, Angelus, Parker, Riley, Spike and then the clueless Aragorn, I don't think she'll be all too eager to jump into the dating pool. At least not until Aragorn pushes her beyond all endurance. Good catch on the Éowyn factor. Well done on that and the answer is a resounding yes. The words 'bad influence' and 'Elliandre' will be tagged together for quite a while. So plenty of linkage. For the one billionth time, (nothing to with you), the monster is not a warg. And Galadriel's motivations will be explained with time.

Lady of the Wood - the dream part was a titbit for the fans of Buffy. Basically it was some famous quotes from Buffy, her friends and her enemies. I chose them all with some significance, because they're there to warn her of darkness. Slayer prophetic dreams tend to be cryptic based on the show. As for how many chapters by the end? Oh boy, that's a tough one. You see, I have it all planned out, but as I write the story, it takes on a life of its own and grows. It originally started out at about 34 chapters, at last count, it's now 42. And that's the best answer I could give at the moment. It might even end up an even 50! And soon is a relative term to Elves you know….

Liit06 - Correct on the monster. Aragorn taking care of Buffy in this chapter?… um, no. sorry. Thanks for all the compliments! :)

Lunawolf - The demon is explained in this part. I don't think Arwen is a suck-up. 'Ada' can also be translated as 'dad', probably depending on the amount of whine in the voice at the time. It's supposed to be a childhood endearment in this story, in place of the more formal adar. Yeah, Théoden will get one hell of a shock, along with some other people!

Malfeus - thanks for being such a loyal fan! :)

Mari - I LOVE to write cliffhangers! (evil grin appears)

Meria - Sorry, but I'm seriously considering scrapping ' A light'.

N/A - The 'thing' will be explained in this chapter! And you're partly right, Buffy's blood was used! The trouble with the ranger is that he doesn't realise he's tormenting her! Elrond does get to meddle in this chapter, covertly of course.

Pamie884 - Cool, but the name change threw me for a second there! :) Yes, Aragorn and Arwen, and mostly Aragorn, will continue to shove their feet in it and to make things as complicated as possible. Sorry, no warg. No, things are not happy in Buffy-land. Thanks for all the nice words!

Restive Nature - Thanks so much! Cool on the no shredding. Yes, Théoden is a momentary thing. You know, new woman in town. He goes sniffing. Gets slapped back, learns from his stupidity! Good call on the Éowyn thing… just think of the capacity for mischief and mayhem there! The quotes in her dream have significance but her slayer prophetic dreams are encompassing short term as well as long term so while she, and you, will eventually see a reason for them as the story progresses. No, not a warg. Again, thanks!

Shadow Master - awww, thanks! :D! Buffy will have an effect but sorry, Theodred has to die to let Éomer be king. Buffy will have an affect on people, and an effect that will recur in TTT, especially with a certain shield-maiden. (hint, hint) Théodred is really such an unfleshed out character and I don't have any great motivation to do so for him. But good idea though. The story will be different to the movie verse and bookverse. It's inevitable when inserting a character like Buffy, but that's all I'm saying as I have to keep you in suspense somehow, don't I? Good analysis of the situation though. And you're bang on the mark in some cases. And yes, I have been talking about sequels with my beta, and it is most likely that this will be continuing, (in another story of course) after I have finished 'First Knight'. Consider it as pretty much being a given.

ShawThang - No, not a warg. And about Buffy's reference to her eight year tour of duty as Slayer was only in context to her time spent serving as an active slayer. And especially her time on the Hellmouth. In ME, while she is still a slayer, she now co-ordinates her efforts with other people who have armies and the like, and so is more a warrior instead of demon hunter. As the demons haven't been lining up to get killed by her, (orcs not included), most of her demon experience would be concentrated in the eight years she was a slayer in her birth world. This attack has been her first major demon kill since her arrival in ME, though she will have more as the years go by and the Shadow grows stronger. And meaner. And smarter. And severely disliking petite blonde women. And to drop a hint for chapters in the near future, Buffy's sense of invincibility is going to come under severe battering. And I LOVE long reviews so don't worry! And thanks for the compliment!

Star - Thanks! :) Good call on Aragorn, he's clueless to how deep their closeness runs. Sorry, but Éowyn isn't even born yet, or Éomer for that matter! But Buffy's stay in Rohan is not yet over. She will return! Thanks for all your nice words! :)

Tomm Byrn - The timeline completely corresponds with Tolkien's timeline. Of course, it's the not well documented time only mentioned in passing or in the appendixes at the moment so that may be why some people aren't too familiar with it. While this story will encompass the War of the Ring, and therefore the LotR trilogy, it also incorporates much from the appendixes and other sources. Mainly only minor changes have been made to the timeline so it's fairly accurate with the main events; for example; Aragorn taking his leave of Gondor and the final battle with the Corsairs, Aragorn and Arwen's betrothal, Boromir's birth, etc. I also try and stick to canon in areas where Buffy doesn't mess with Tolkien's work. She's there to compliment it and improve it not take it over. I hope that answers your question! :)

And major thanks to:

Brazen1, Charmedfanatic3000, Cristina, DarkAngelMali, Delphine Pryde, DragonStar, gaul1, goldenshadows, Kella, Jania, Ms8309, Night-Owl123, redcristal, Tkiwi, VioletHaze, Wild320,

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: TO LOVE, HONOUR AND BETRAY

The Eastfold, Rohan, 2984, TA. The month of Nénimë (February)

Gandalf the Grey, for all his wisdom, was no less surprised than any when an arrow whizzed past his ear. He could not see the bow that had released the projectile but he knew that someone was close.

But as it had been an arrow crafted after the Elvish fashion, he was not too worried. There were few things in Middle Earth that could threaten the life of an Istar.

Holding his hands out in the universal gesture of peace, he spoke, "Would whoever is using me for target practice please desist? I mean them no harm."

A woman's voice came from amongst the long grass on the plain, "Who are you?"

"My name is Gandalf the Grey," he replied, "And who are you if I may ask?"

A blonde head peeked up from the cover of the greenery, "Mithrandir?" she asked, "Elrond's friend the wizard guy?"

"One and the same, my dear and you are?"

"Another friend of Elrond's." she answered enigmatically.

Gandalf knew of only one blonde human woman who could claim friendship with Elrond Half-Elven. "Are you by any chance a young woman named Buffy?" he asked, "I believe Elrond said you were a warrior of some renown."

The bow was lowered slowly, "I'm Buffy," she answered, "And I've heard a lot about the famous Grey Pilgrim."

"Are you not going to come out from your hiding place?" he asked with some amusement.

"I would if I could," Buffy answered painfully, "Elrond and Galadriel trust you and I'm in no position not to at the moment so here's the deal. I got hurt in a fight with a nasty; help would be appreciated."

Concerned now, as he had been fully appraised by the other ringbearers about her unique status, he swiftly walked over to her and once the barrier of the grass was removed, he had to stop himself gasping in shock at the sight of her.

The Slayer was an absolute mess, and her skin was flushed with fever, probably an infection from one of the multitude of messy wounds that had been inflicted on her.

"By Eru!" he exclaimed, "What happened to you?"

Buffy's pain-filled eyes met his, "Monster…" she choked out before she gave in to the pain wracking her and fainted.

Gandalf knelt down beside her anxiously. He knew that much was riding on this woman's life and judging by the state of her, she would not be alive for much longer unless he got her to a healer and fast.

Elrond would be the only one with the skill that could save her, and if he was to get the brave girl to the Elven-Lord, then it was time for a wizard to ask another favour of the eagles.

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As quick as he could manage, Gandalf sent out a summons for Gwaihir, the Windlord, chief of all the great eagles, and then sent word to Buffy's captain, Éomund of Eastfold, as he found the sign of his house on some items on the poor slayer, saying that she had taken gravely ill and he was taking her to a skilled healer.

In the hours that he sat beside her, waiting for the eagle to come, Buffy came back to consciousness painfully.

Gandalf was leaning over her when she cracked open her eyes, wincing as the bright sunlight seared them. "How do you feel Dagnir (slayer)?" he asked with concern.

Intellectually, Buffy knew she really shouldn't be trusting someone she'd never met before but she had heard many tales about this particular wizard and knew that both Galadriel and Elrond considered him a close friend. Not to mention that she wasn't exactly in a state to take care of herself at the moment. Trusting the Istar was the only way to go to survive.

"Very crappy," she answered, "I think I've been poisoned."

Gandalf's big bushy eyebrows drew together in concentration, looking for all the world like big furry caterpillars to Buffy. "I know you are in pain, and I have nothing to remedy that with me. But I will get you to Elrond within a few days. But I must know what did this to you!"

"It's dead," Buffy replied, trying not to move and aggravate her wounds, "Some really nasty monster was hunting me. Looked like some hybrid werewolf thing. We fought, I barely won. I hacked it to little pieces. I think its claws were coated with poison. The wounds burn."

"A Gaur?! (Werewolf)" Gandalf repeated, "Such things have not been seen this far north in many a century."

"Well, they're back," Buffy answered. "And it nearly ate my horse. And it almost had a Buffy shish-kabob too."

Gandalf shook his head, his pointed hat wobbling precariously, "No, you say it came after you?" Buffy nodded, "Then I would say that it was sent after you, and you alone, by Sauron or one of his servants. Elrond told me that you had made an enemy of the Witch King."

"I only bruised his ego a couple of times," she said, "His mad - not my fault."

"You're dealing with forces beyond your comprehension." Gandalf warned.

"Yeah? Well it's a hobby of mine." Buffy said, wincing as the stinging wound along her ribcage decided to up the pain factor, "How exactly are we getting to Elrond? And how do I know I can trust you?"

Gandalf's eyes had an odd glint in them as he answered, "Let me just say that our purposes in these lands are much the same. I too, was sent here by the Valar to oppose Sauron. We are comrades in arms so to speak. You need have no fear of treachery from me, Slayer, for we seek the same goals - the ending of Sauron's terror, and the unity of the Free Folk of Middle Earth."

"Okay, I'll give you that one," she replied, "But you avoided my other question."

"Why that's simple!" Gandalf said cheerfully, "You shall go by eagle."

Buffy's eyes widened comically, and if the situation had not been so dire, the wizard would have gained much amusement from the sight. "By eagle?! Tell me you didn't just say that!"

Gandalf's amused expression turned serious, "Slayer, if you do not get into Elrond's care soon, then I am afraid you will not live for much longer."

Buffy's face crumpled, "I'd kinda expected that actually," she said, "Every slayer dies young, right?"

'You shall not die Buffy Summers,' Galadriel's voice echoed through her mind, 'Middle Earth yet has need of you. Trust in Mithrandir, he shall not lead you astray.'

The wizard somehow knew about Galadriel's message almost before Buffy finished hearing it, and backed the Elf Lady up. "No, you shall not die. The eagles are the swiftest means of transport; you shall be in Rivendell soon and under Elrond's watchful eyes. But now you must rest slayer, for the trip will be trying with your wounds, and I shall not have Elrond skin me alive because I aided in your state of ill health!"

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Rivendell. 2984, TA. The month of Nénimë (February).

Four days later, Gandalf arrived with his precious burden. Gwaihir the Windlord had borne them hence, after Gandalf explained the possible ramifications that the young woman's death may have on Middle Earth, and the fight against the Shadow.

And so the Lord of the eagles had brought the wizard and the dangerously ailing slayer to the hidden valley.

Lord Elrond, Arwen and Erestor were waiting for them when they landed. His fellow ringbearer's face was grave, Gandalf having mind-spoke to him as they flew. Elrond came forth and barely managed to hide his surprise at the shocking state of the slayer behind the impassive mask of a healer.

Arwen, unable to hide her own distress, was terribly distraught at the sight of her dear friend and her lovely face was lined with anguish and worry. "Ai! Buffy!" she cried in dismay.

Elrond thanked the eagle for his time, and carefully lifted the wounded slayer. Having been unconscious for the last day of their flight, Buffy only moaned slightly as her wounds were jostled.

Elrond swiftly bore her into the healing halls, followed by his anxious daughter, his advisor and a most concerned wizard, who was busily filling him in on the details of her injuries.

"She said that the claws of the monster she grappled with may have been laden with poison. She mentioned that her wounds burned often." Gandalf explained hurriedly, not missing the haste with which Elrond was acting. The brave slayer's wounds were very serious to move Elrond so.

"Her shoulder is rather badly infected," he continued, as Elrond listened attentively, "It was ripped open nearly to the bone, both from the front and back. She was also nearly gutted from her ribs to her stomach, her thigh is either badly bruised or broken, and she has a multitude of abrasions that are refusing to heal. She has lost a lot of blood Elrond, too much blood in my opinion."

Elrond only nodded as the group swept into the healing wing. Laying Buffy down on one of the beds, the Elven Lord surveyed the gruesome wounds, his expression darkening with each passing minute, "She is gravely ill." he stated. "So ill that I fear she may pass on. I will do all in my power to prevent her death, but I cannot say for sure whether I can save her. Only time will tell. If the antidote to the poison does not break her fever, then she will die from it ere I ever treat her other wounds."

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The Healing Wing, the Last Homely House, Rivendell. 2984, TA. The month of Nénimë (February).

Two days later.

It had been two days since Buffy had been brought to Rivendell and if anything, her condition had deteriorated despite Elrond's best efforts. The fever still held her tight in its grip, and it remained unbroken and dangerously hot no matter what herbs were given to her to dampen it.

"I do not understand it," Elrond had said in confidence to the crafty old wizard, "Ever has she explained to me about the Slayer healing ability, and indeed she is nearly as swift to heal as one of Elf-kind, sometimes faster. I cannot fathom why this ability has not yet helped her progress."

"Does the poison impede it?" Gandalf asked.

"Nay, not to the extent I am seeing." Elrond replied, rubbing his brow in perplexion. "I just cannot place what I am seeing! This shadow should not lay itself on her. Her immunity to it is great by any measure."

"And what if that immunity were taken away?" Gandalf replied, lighting up his pipe.

Elrond just looked at him, "That could not have happened, could it?" he exclaimed, "She is the Slayer!"

"But you have told me that this is not her first encounter with the fell servants of Sauron," Gandalf answered, eyes narrowed in concentration. "Every being has a limit to the amount of abuse they can take Elrond, she is stronger by many measures, but she is nowhere near invincible."

The Elven-lord paused in thought, "But for Sauron to have been prepared for her in this way…. There is no way that he could have known she is a slayer, and most certainly not how to guard against her."

"Elrond, I could not examine the corpse of the monster your slayer dismembered, but I sensed great evil from it. It could only have been the work of the enemy. And whether he knows what she is, I cannot say, but I believe he sent that creature out either to kill her, or to test her."

"I trust your judgement Mithrandir," he replied, "But if what you say is true, it bodes ill for Buffy. If this is some new poison from the enemy, I might not be able to counter it."

"The slayer was brought here for a reason, my friend," Gandalf said, "We must trust that it is not yet her time to depart the circles of this world. She still has a purpose to fulfil."

"I hope you are right," the Elven-lord sighed, thinking of his children and their fates. "Else much more than hope for victory in battle will be lost with her. Come, I must check on her once more, and the abilities of an Istar might well be needed if what assails her is some foul concoction of the enemy."

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Locked within the confines of her own mind, Buffy found each and every one of her nightmares coming back to haunt her with a vengeance.

Each of her deaths, her near-deaths and some of the worst memories of her life had resurfaced to torment her.

And the worst thing was, that she was unable to tell if this was real or not.

But by the Valar, did it seem real!

She had to hold back her fear when she found herself back in the Master's Lair, the first place to witness her death. The Master was there too, in all his leather clad glory.

"So this is the Slayer. You're prettier than the last one." he hissed, and Buffy jumped when her clothes changed to reflect what she had worn on that fateful night. Walking backwards, she scrabbled for any weapon but could find nothing.

The Master's fangs gleamed with her blood, and she found herself powerless to resist when he shoved her, and she fell backwards into the water. To drown.

Gasping for air, she felt all of the old terror rushing back, but when she tried to pull herself out of the water, she found that the Lair had changed into something else….

Faith stood in front of her. Her fellow slayer bleeding from the stomach wound Buffy had inflicted on her. "Hey there, Killer." the dark haired girl greeted her.

"Being the Slayer is not the same as being a killer." Buffy denied, staring at the bloodied knife she still held.

"Faith, these are innocent people." she said, eyeing the spectators. Willow, Xander, Giles, the Mayor, Adam… she couldn't look at them anymore so she turned back to Faith.

"No such animal." Faith answered, "You know you're not gonna take me alive." Faith continued, reliving the to the death battle they had fought so long ago.

"That's not a problem." Buffy answered, as much on auto-pilot as everything else in this scene. Whatever was going on, it gave new meaning to the phrase 'trapped within your memories'.

"Well, look at you, all dressed up in big sister's clothes." Faith sneered, and now she was holding the knife.

"You told me I was just like you Faith. That I was only holding it in."

Faith's smile was dark, "You wanna know the deal? Human weakness. It never goes away. Even yours." Ramming the blade into Buffy's gut, she stood over the elder slayer, "Time's up B," she said, "Your time's up. See you in hell B, 'cos that's where you're heading."

In front of her eyes, Faith morphed into the familiar figure of the First Slayer, the rags that clothed her swaying in a non-existent breeze.

"You cannot escape your destiny." the woman said, stalking Buffy like a wild tigress. "The Slayer does not walk in the world. You do not belong here! You belong to death!"

"I walk. I talk. I shop, I sneeze, I'm gonna be a fireman when the floods roll back. There's trees in this desert since you moved out, and I don't sleep on a bed of bones. Now leave me alone!" Buffy said, an almost replica of their conversation before.

"No .. friends… just the kill… we are… alone." The First Slayer hissed, lunging at Buffy.

"You just have to get over the whole primal power thing. You're not the source of me." Buffy said, blocking her predecessor's punch.

"Don't be so sure… You think you know. What's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun…." the primal slayer warned, "You can never hope to grasp the source of our power. But yours is right here." And the First Slayer's hand shot out, trying to rip out Buffy's heart….

"You never learn, do you? This wasn't about you. This was never about you. And you fall for it every single time!" Angelus taunted, his handsome face mocking her with every word. "No one could love you. Look at you, you're a monster. Just. Like. Me."

The First smoothly stepped out of the shadows, and though clothed in black, it wore Buffy's face. "Look, everyone's all afraid. It's just like old times. Is the little itsy bitsy slayer shaking in her boots? She should be."

"Go away," Buffy said shakily, "I took care of you. You have no power over me."

"I'm not some stupid little demon you can slay, little girl." It hissed, "I am something that you can't even conceive. The first evil. Beyond sin. Beyond death. I am the thing that darkness fears. You'll never see me, but I am everywhere. Every being, every thought, every drop of hate. And believe it or not, you're mine now."

"I destroyed you!" she cried.

"You can never destroy me! You're the reason I came back! I lurk inside of you! You have no idea what you're dealing with."

"Let me guess. Is it... Evil?" Buffy sneered right back.

"It's something you'll never understand. Your Master!" the First taunted, "You come from evil. You know this. In the end, that's all you'll ever be…."

Buffy's mom grabbed her by the hand, and Buffy staggered at the change of scene, "Open your eyes, mom. What do you think has being going on for the last two years? The fights, the weird occurrences - how many times have you washed blood out of my clothes? You still haven't figured it out?" Buffy cried against her will.

"Well, it stops now." Joyce said furiously.

"It doesn't stop! Do you think I chose to be like this? Do you know how lonely it is? How dangerous? I would love to be upstairs watching TV or gossiping about boys, or god, even studying. But I have to save the world. Again." Buffy said, near tears, "It never stops!"

Giles came to harass her next, blathering on about a world in which she didn't have the life expectancy of a gnat.

"World is what it is. We fight, we die. Wishing doesn't change that." Buffy said bluntly, devoid of emotion. The council's perfect mindless slayer.

"I have to believe in a better world." Giles said. "Go ahead. I have to live in this one." Buffy said.

And from behind her, the First grabbed her by her hair, an image of a flaming lidless eye appearing before, searing her to the bone, "Yes, you do," it hissed, "You live to be mine… come to me, my servant…"

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Elrond swept into the healing halls to find two healers trying to restrain a restless Buffy. The slayer was in delirium, fighting against unseen captors, and the two Elves were having a hard time holding her down in her distress.

Going to her, the Elven-lord brought to bear all his skill in an attempt to calm her. To his relief, it worked and she calmed under his touch. Elrond gestured for Gandalf to come closer, "Something foul is at work here," he said, "Some devilry is tormenting her from within."

Gandalf did not reply until he had gotten the two lesser healers to leave. "Aye, Sauron's arm has grown long indeed. I can feel her fighting, she tries to resist the call."

"The call to what?" Elrond asked in alarm.

Gandalf studied the prone form again, "The call to his service I think," the Istar answered, "He covets her power."

"Then how do we cleanse her of the toxin? None of my tonics have worked."

Gandalf's face paled as realisation came, "Elrond! Look deeper, see what ails her! Look!"

The Elven-lord did as bid, and soon his pallor had matched the wizard's, "Ai! It's blood based. But how in Arda did they get hold of a sample?"

"The ways and methods of the Enemy are treacherous, and none can say how he works. Can you heal her now?"

"Perhaps with Vilya's strength," Elrond replied, "But it is still risky. I know not what his hold on her is. But on the other hand, she is more stubborn than the most pig-headed mule. She would not give in so easily. But if we go with this course, she may not be able to find her way back."

"Then allow her friends to be her lifeline."

Elrond took a deep breath and then nodded, "Let us pray that this works, and Sauron does not gain his enemy's death. Fetch Arwen." he ordered, and turned back to his patient to prepare for what was to come.

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As father, daughter and wizard crowded around her bedside, Buffy remained locked in torment.

Elrond said that all was ready, and as the Elven-Lord and Istar prepared to use their respective powers to flush out the poison, Arwen clasped Buffy's hand and used her own power to be as a lifeline for Buffy to follow back, "Im Arwen. Telin le thaed. Lasto beth nîn, tolo dan na ngalad. (I am Arwen. I've have come to help you. Hear my voice. Come back to the light.)" she said repeatedly, as her adar (father) and the wizard got to work.

Vilya glowed upon his finger as Elrond carefully laboured to flush the poison from her bloodstream. Nearby, Gandalf used his own powers to make sure that Elrond's flagrant use of one of the Three went unnoticed by the darker powers in Middle Earth, while Elladan and Elrohir guarded the entrances.

For many hours, father and daughter worked ceaselessly, Arwen gently entreating her friend back from the shadow and Elrond steadily but surely gaining victory over the stubborn poison.

At last, the light of Vilya winked out, and Elrond wearily collapsed back into a chair, "It is done," he said. "It is up to Dagnir now to pull herself back."

"She will heal though?" Arwen asked worriedly.

"Vilya has counteracted the poison that was crippling her," Elrond replied, "That means that her fever should break shortly. But her other wounds are still serious, and will require many weeks of healing until she is back to normal. But she should wake soon enough."

Arwen sighed in relief now that she was assured her friend was no longer in danger of losing her life. Leaving Buffy's bedside, she went over to her father, "Ada, you are weary. Why do you not go to bed?" she asked, "Both you and Mithrandir deserve some rest. She will need you when she wakes but until then the twins and I shall watch over her. Go!" she ordered, nudging him out of his chair with all of the authority of the Lady of Imladris.

Elrond looked at his feisty daughter, and then at the weary wizard, "Aye, we shall do that iel nín (my daughter)," he said, "Good night, and do not exhaust yourself watching over her. She is strong and should be well now. Care for yourself as well."

Arwen smiled brightly at him, "I know ada, now go rest!"

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One and a half days later, Buffy woke. At first groggy, and oblivious to Arwen and the twins' delight, she cried out in pain as she moved and her wounds ached. As memory returned to her, and she belatedly recognised the Last Homely House, and the presence of friends, she looked around for Elrond.

"Where is Elrond?" she rasped, her throat achingly dry.

Arwen held a glass of water to her lips and she drank greedily. "Elrohir is getting him," the elleth (Elf-maiden) answered, "He will be here shortly."

No sooner than she had said that than the Elf-lord in question rushed in. "Buffy," he greeted her, "It is good to see you awake mellon nín. How do you feel?"

Buffy tried to glare at him but got the impression that it was a rather feeble attempt, "I think a few mountains fell on me," she said painfully, "But unfortunately, I know better. We've got trouble, Elrond."

"Gandalf said it was a gaur (werewolf) or perhaps a draug (wolf) that attacked you," Elrond said, "Whatever it was, it was a servant of the Enemy. Probably an assassin."

"I kinda figured that. I'm not sure what it was exactly but it nearly ripped me to shreds." Buffy said, "And let's not forget to mention the poisoned claws. Plus, it was intelligent in a way most monsters aren't. To sum it up, dangerous with a capital 'D'."

"Buffy, you must not worry over it," Elrond ordered, "You nearly died Dagnir. You must focus on your recovery."

"I was afraid you were going to say something like that," Buffy said, closing her eyes, "What's the damage?"

"This deloth (abhorrence)," Elrond began, "did carry poison. We neutralised it but the resulting fever nearly killed you. Your left shoulder was sliced to the bone from both sides. You will not be able to move it for at least two weeks, and you are not going to go anywhere near a weapon for at least a month. You were nearly gutted down the middle as well, the wound is serious and you are bed bound for at least a week lest you rip the stitches. Also, your thigh is heavily bruised so walking will be painful."

Buffy winced, "Well, that's a whole bunch of good," she grumbled, "Nothing permanent I hope?"

"Not that I can foresee," Elrond replied, "But you will be quite weakened for a while. You lost a lot of blood."

"Elrond. I once got nearly drained by a vampire and I went out and blew up my school the next day. I think blood loss is the least of my worries," she pointed out. "But listen, I got these really weird dreams ages ago, and before I woke up today. And I mean weird Elrond, kinda like a warning for the nasty that nearly had me for lunch."

Elrond looked at her seriously, "I can only feel a dark shadow in my mind, Dagnir. Whatever hunted you, it had a dark purpose."

Buffy's expression matched Elrond's, "Then I guess I should be glad I killed it."

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Rivendell. 2984, TA. The month of Viressë (April)

Two months later, Buffy was mostly healed, though her shoulder and ribs still gave her trouble. After Glorfindel had burst her stitches, again, Elrond had forbidden her from sparring with anybody until she got the all clear.

But as the blonde woman lazed about in one of Rivendell's many gardens, she did not realise that the twins were plotting again….

Approaching her, the duo flopped down beside her, conveniently placing themselves so that she could not escape too easily. "Buffy," Elladan started, "We have a serious matter that we would talk with you about."

"As long as it's nothing to do with one of your pranks or schemes, fine," she answered, glaring at the elder twin, "I don't like being chased by angry stable hands."

"Buffy, you know you're as a sister to us," Elrohir said, and warning bells went off in Buffy's head.

"Okay, what do you want?" she demanded, "I'm not falling for one of your tricks guys!"

Elladan clasped her arm, seeing Elrohir do the same on his side, "Walk with us meldiren," he said, gently pulling Buffy up.

"We wish to ask you about love." Elrohir said.

"What? Found an elleth you like, Elf-knight?" Buffy teased.

"No, we wished to know if you had found love, dagnir," Elladan replied.

"Say with Aragorn?" Elrohir continued.

Buffy gasped in surprise and tried to jerk out of their grasp but they just tightened their grip on her arms. And mentally hearing Elrond's lecture about busting her stitches again due to throwing Elves around (cough, Glorfindel), she subsided into the twins' grip. "I don't know what you're going on about," she denied firmly.

"We saw you two in Gondor," Elrohir said, "We know you are in love with Estel, and we think he may yet returns such feelings."

"And he loves Arwen, remember?" she growled, trying to loosen the twins' hold.

"We know that," Elladan said.

"As we have been dreading it for years," Elrohir continued,

"Of course we know that," Elladan finished, "But we would not see Arwen waste her life on a mortal whose heart she does not own."

"Aragorn's head over heels for her," Buffy pointed out.

"No, he's not," Elladan denied, "He only thinks he is."

"We think he loves you." Elrohir said. "But is as blind as a bat from Mordor. We would see you as his wife, not Undómiel, both for her happiness and your own."

"You're dreaming," Buffy protested, feeling tears coming on to her horror.

"No, we are not. Adar and daernaneth all agree with us."

"Oh, so it's all a big conspiracy huh?" Buffy said furiously, the tears of rage and pain spilling over, "Make Buffy backstab her friend by trying to steal her betrothed just so Arwen doesn't lose her immortality! That's just so low! I thought you were friends, but apparently I'm just a pawn to be moved around a board! Just go away! Let me go!" she shouted heatedly, pulling out of their grasp.

"Just leave me alone!" she yelled, before turning and running across the broad expanse of grass, determined to get far away from the site of her humiliation before the two Terrors recovered from their shock.

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Celebrían's private garden, Rivendell. 2984, TA. The month of Viressë (April)

Legolas Greenleaf was once more visiting the fair valley that unknowingly held his heart. With Taur-e-Nelaedelos's (Mirkwood's) increasingly precarious position, communications with the other Elven realms was not only essential, it was survival.

Due to the fortress of Dol Guldur to the south of their realm, often his father Thranduil would have important and secret information to pass on to the other Elven rulers. Oftentimes such information was so important or secret that it could not be entrusted even to the most steadfast messengers, as the papers may be stolen on the road, and so Thranduil sent his only heir, Legolas, with such dispatches.

Legolas was also well aware of his father's other reasons for sending him out of Mirkwood frequently, but he knew better than to admit to such knowledge.

Ever since Yávien, Legolas's mother's, death, Thranduil had been increasingly eager to have Legolas spend time in more secure realms. Even though Legolas was needed to patrol the forest, he was not blind to the fact that usually at least one guard was assigned to the patrol with the overriding duty of watching his back, as a royal bodyguard of sorts.

While such measures did annoy him a little, he knew where his father was coming from and so it stopped him from chafing overly much at the restrictions. But he had to admit to himself that the open, unspoiled beauty of Rivendell was sometimes a welcome relief from the shadow infested boughs of his homeland.

As he wandered through one of his favourite places, Lady Celebrían's beautiful and peaceful garden, he was surprised to hear the sound of weeping. It was muffled, as though the person did not want to be heard, but to his sharp Elvish hearing, it was clearly audible.

He found the source curled up beneath the lone mallorn tree in the garden, brought from Lórien by Celebrían herself, golden hair askew, and weeping sadly.

"Buffy?" he asked in surprise, the last time he had seen her she had been relaxing outside, and noticeably not in a state of distress. "Mellon nín! (my friend)" he cried, dropping down beside her, "What is the matter?"

Buffy looked up at the sound of his voice, her eyes red and puffy, "They know Legolas," she stated dully.

"Who knows what?" the Elf asked.

"The twins know about my little secret about Aragorn." Buffy said, "It was horrible! Now, they'll all be with the pitying, and even worse, they're trying to get me and him together so Arwen stays immortal. Never mind the fact that it'd be betraying a close friend of mine if I tried to steal her boyfriend. Which I wouldn't do."

"The gwenyn (twins) are plotting again, I take it?" Legolas said without much surprise. "Buffy, I doubt they mean to use you so outrageously. I'm sure they mean well, but in their haste to break Arwen from her troth, they failed to consider how you may feel."

Buffy wiped at the remnants of tears on her face, somewhat disgusted with herself for breaking down, "Maybe I should suggest they try to pair you and Arwen up," she joked, "You never know, they might just get it right."

"If you even breathe a word to them, I will feed you to the spiders." Legolas threatened good-naturedly, "Are you ready to return to the house now?"

"Sure," Buffy said, "I think it's time for me to threaten the twins now anyway. I wouldn't put it past them to tell Aragorn or Arwen straight out about my little problem."

"They can be subtle when they want to be," Legolas said.

Buffy laughed at that, "To get through to Aragorn they'd have to drop hints the size of mountain ranges. His brain had been on a permanent vacation to Arwen-land," she reminded him.

Legolas shrugged, "I shall take your word for it." he said agreeably.

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Later that evening, Legolas returned to Celebrían's garden to finish the walk that had been interrupted.

And so he was greatly surprised and pleased when Arwen appeared from nowhere and fell into step beside him. "Arwen," he greeted her, "What brings you here?"

"I am looking for the gwenyn (twins)," she answered, "Ada wants to see them and no one knows where they have gone."

"Well, I have not seen them today," Legolas said, "But if what I heard from other sources is right, they shall be hiding from our resident slayer."

Arwen shook her head in amusement, "What trouble did they get her into now?" she asked.

"I believe it was their own mouths that got them into such trouble," Legolas said, "Buffy does not take such insults well."

"I can imagine," Arwen said, laughing.

There, in the moonlight, its silver light shining down on the beauteous Evenstar, her lovely face lit up with laughter and those deep grey eyes shining at him, Legolas was lost.

To him, she had never looked more beautiful, and it pleased him to know that her current happiness was due to him, not Aragorn.

Caught in the moment, unable to summon the slightest bit of his normal restraint, he acted without thought of consequences.

In a swift movement, he pulled Arwen to him and pressed his lips to hers, capturing her mouth was his. She gasped in surprise and he took the advantage and deepened the kiss.

Slender hands pushed against his torso and with a start, he came back to himself. Pulling back, he staggered back a few steps, guilt, horror and shame welling up inside of him.

"I am so sorry, forgive me hiril nîn," he whispered shamefully, and took off into the dark of night, his head reeling with the ramifications of what he had just done.

He had betrayed his close friend Aragorn. He had assaulted the woman he loved. And had revealed feelings that he's sworn never to voice to her or her love.

Left behind in her mother's garden, Arwen brought a hand up to her abused lips in shock and wonder. Heading back to her rooms, deep in thought, she failed to notice their audience.

And from the shadows of the bushes, two identical pairs of grey eyes gleamed catlike in the dark.

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Elrond glared at his unruly sons when they burst into his chambers late that night, waking him from reverie. "What are you doing here at this hour ionnath nín (my sons)?" he demanded.

"Father, we have the most wonderful news!" Elladan exclaimed.

"Aye, adar, we have found a suitor for Arwen!" Elrohir continued.

"You mean to tell me that after four years, you barge into my rooms in the dead of night to blather about a name?!" Elrond said in disbelief, pulling a rich velvet robe around him.

"Ada, you do not understand," Elladan said, "Legolas kissed Arwen in the gardens tonight!"

"What?!" Elrond sputtered, "Legolas?! He did what with my daughter?!"

"Think ada!" Elrohir cried, "Legolas is immortal and if he can win Arwen's heart…."

Few people remembered that Elrond Eärendilion could be just as devious, if not more so, than his diabolical sons when the need called for it. And now all that devious intelligence was coming to bear on this problem, and its solution.

Smiling broadly, he gestured for his sons to come closer, "Nín gwenyn, I believe I have a plan…" he said.

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A/N: So? Feedback always welcome and appreciated! Please READ and REVIEW!!!

Next chapter: Aragorn visits the dark places of the world for the first time… Buffy gets in over her head… And both Aragorn and Buffy learn that even slayers aren't invulnerable…

Elvish:

Nénimë - Quenya for February

Dagnir - slayer

gaur - werewolf

Im Arwen. Telin le thaed. Lasto beth nîn, tolo dan na ngalad. - I am Arwen. I've have come to help you. Hear my voice. Come back to the light.

Adar - father

Imladris - Rivendell

iel nín - my daughter

Elleth - Elf-maiden

mellon nín - my friend

draug - wolf

deloth - abhorrence

Viressë - Quenya for April

Meldiren - my friend

Elrohir - Elf-knight/star-rider

Undómiel - Evenstar

Daernaneth - grandmother

Mallorn - a tree of Lórien, which has golden blossoms.

Gwenyn - twins

hiril nîn - my lady
ionnath nín - my sons

Nín gwenyn - my twins

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Celebrían - Galadriel and Celeborn's daughter. Wife of Elrond. Mother to Elladan, Elrohir and Arwen. Sailed West in 2510 after being attacked by orcs in 2509.

Dol Guldur - 'Hill of Sorcery'. A treeless height in the south-west of Mirkwood, a stronghold of the Necromancer before he was revealed as Sauron returned. Houses three Nazgûl, led by Khamûl.

Eärendil - Elrond's father. Now sails the sky with a Silmaril. Can be seen as a star in Middle Earth.

Eärendilion - means son of Eärendil in Sindarin.

Éomund of Eastfold - Chief Marshal of the Mark. Would go on to be brother-in-law to Théoden King of Rohan and father to Éomer and Éowyn.

Taur-e-Nelaedelos - The name of Mirkwood in Sindarin. It means 'Forest of the Great Fear'. This is what Greenwood the Great (Eryn Galen in Sindarin) was named after the rise of Dol Guldur.

Vilya - the Ring of Air. Strongest of the three Elven Rings made by Celebrimbor. Borne by Elrond.

Yávien - The name of Legolas's mother and Thranduil's queen. in this story. (fictional of course). Translates to 'Autumn'. She was slaughtered by orcs who recognised her as Thranduil's Queen, and her body was dumped back in the forest for the Elven patrols to find, as a message and a warning for Thranduil.