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: I won! I won! Yay! 'First Knight' came in joint first place in the MPA awards in the crossover section, 371 votes to 370!

I cannot thank all you wonderful readers and reviewers out there for voting for me! I am totally ecstatic and very hyper at the moment! I can only send out a huge THANK YOU to all who voted for my fic, encouraged me during my trials in writing this, and who have been patiently following my story! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!

Now, to reward your patience and absolutely delightful reviews, the time has come that you have all been waiting for! Not only is this the longest chapter of the story so far but it is time for Aragorn's Revelation, also known as 'his kick up the butt'. Enjoy my darling readers, and get ready for the real roller coaster ride to begin!

Review responses:

Alliana Greenleaf Halliwe - Boromir is a character that grows on you. When he comes off the defensive he'll be less of an ass. And as for Buffy having a power, I know, I know. But that's the premise for the sequel so….

Anna - The Arwen and Aragorn talk is in this chapter. And Denethor definitely went with the tarnishing. And get with the giddiness, the wake up call is here!

Boo - two jobs? Aren't you busy? And yes, it's a fusion of both verses.

ChibiChibi - war is definitely a good word to use! And yes, break up time is here but comforting? You'll have to wait…

Draco's Slytherin Vampiress - no, Boromir doesn't find out all that she is, only some. Which love triangle are you referring to? 'Cos the current one consists of Buffy who likes Aragorn but he likes Arwen who likes Aragorn but is liked by Legolas who Aragorn thought was dating Buffy, and whom Buffy knows that he likes Arwen just as he knows she likes Aragorn, but both Arwen and Aragorn are oblivious. God, that sounds complicated.

FallenStar2 - thanks! Yes, when a woman plans, things definitely get done! I know it's hard to imagine Buffy as old as she is, but I tend to envision her as season 7 Buffy with a helluva lot more wisdom and experience.

Felicia Neko - thank you! And Boromir didn't recognise Narsil as the Sword that Was Broken because he didn't believe there was any truth in the tales of old about the ancient kings of the north.

goldenshadows - I'm glad that you're not a pseudo-cavewoman. Will she join? Answer in this part! But the revealing thing? Not yet.

Haley - yes, Boromir gets a dressing down and a sizeable one too!

JeanB - Thanks! Yes, I did use a lot of lines from the book. I couldn't improve on Tolkien and I need to set the background for some… conflicts later. Not to mention Boromir does a spectacular job of digging his own hole in the books! And I don't want Buffy to steal parts either but it is fun to see her aggravate certain characters! Buffy? A mistake she'll regret? Oooh boy, just one? (author laughs loudly in background) I think the bad guys' motto will be 'bring on the trouble…' Flawless is not a word attributed to Buffy; she makes bad decisions, she gets cranky, her aim can be a little crooked and she has bad luck with dead things. And it's only gonna get worse… a LOT worse…

Lady Alathon - why would Buffy cut her hair? (sincerely puzzled here)

Lady of the Wood - thanks for catching that! Apparently my upload process did not go smoothly! This site just loves to do that to me!

LilGreenImp - yes, it was a very good week for updates! Yes, Buffy is hiding a lot. The question is when is her cat going to escape the bag? As for Denethor, the last time he and Buffy met was fifty odd years ago, he had time to learn some things, including dignity. But I think he would have had to say something about Eliza when people talked about the only woman lieutenant in Gondor. He would have had to tell him something. Let's just say it ain't pretty or fair but hey, that's Denethor. The Denethor I wrote about back then was much younger. And remember it was nine good guys against nine bad guys, it didn't say anything about somebody who while good, does have a bit of evil heritage in them. Sorry, no scoobies. They'd be all dead or really old by now. Yeah, S7 wasn't the greatest in terms of character likeability. And Arwen's got her head screwed on right now, so meddling is in the works. And Buffy LIKES the Elf, remember? He's her friend? And there will be tension a-plenty anyway!

Lunawolf - It's DEFINITELY going to be complex enough! And the break up is HERE, NOW. So I didn't leave you hanging that long!

Mari - Aragorn's wake up call is NOW. And you've hit the mark head on with your assessment of Aragorn's difficulties. Except that I have more to add on to that. And yes, the Fellowship is going to be an… interesting gathering of peoples. Cool idea on the flashbacks.

MiShA - thanks! And I would hope so!

Ms8309 - the council only finishes in this chapter so Buffy gets her say in this one! And yes, he does find out.

organized-chaos - chair, definitely. Much easier to find than a 40 pound salmon.

Phoenix83ad - Jerry Springer hmmm? Never thought of that actually. Yes, Elrond sired the twins remember. They had to get it from somewhere! And Arwen is there in advisor capacity not to volunteer! Arwen/Aragorn waterworks are in this part! The twins don't learn from fear. They like to inspire it more than feel it. As for Aragorn and Legolas, well… they'll have trouble of their own to worry about.

restive nature - thank you! Thanks for your comments about the Dwarves. That feud ain't pretty. And you always get me blushing! It's a gift!

SarahE.Horton - now…

ShawThang - I know it was a lot of retelling, but I needed to establish background for certain.. Events later. (basically evil little plot bunnies in the author's demented mind)

Sparky24 - sorry, for the 'filler' as you put it but I felt the story needed something to lighten the doom and gloom that will happen during the War of the Ring. And 22 was a transition to 23. Originally they were one chapter but it just got so big I had to split it into parts.

Star - yes, Arwen makes her decision in this chapter and tells someone. And Aragorn's sense of distance shows up in this part too.

Wbulldogs - thank you! That's so sweet! And I don't like rushing a story, it only ruins it if you do.

And major thanks to:

Cristina, Gaul1, Imp17, Jania, LizaGirl, Night-Owl123, pamie884, tracey, zayra

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: DAUGHTER OF THE NIGHT

"The secret waits for the insight of eyes unclouded by longing."

- Lao Tzu

"That is a king!" Boromir exclaimed in pure incredulity, staring at the heir of Isildur like he had suddenly grown two heads.

Aragorn had to give Legolas and Elrond full credit for this little mess. They really knew how to carefully dismantle every single plan he had had for this council. None of which included having his true heritage unceremoniously announced to this steward's son.

Nay, Aragorn knew Denethor too well to trust his favourite son so quickly.

"Havo dad, Legolas," (sit down)," he said wearily, wishing that his friend had not done that. He was not yet ready to get into a fight with the man he would usurp.

Boromir's glances at him had held no particular animosity towards him before but now those grey eyes were filled with malice, ready to fight for what he considered his, and not Aragorn's.

"Gondor has no king. Gondor needs no king!" Boromir spat, sparing a glance for the ranger akin to how one would look at an unusually ugly orc.

Luckily for the ranger, Gandalf came to the rescue, obviously not wanting things to deteriorate so soon, and who jumped in to get things back on track. "Aragorn is right. We cannot use it. It has not been borne here through so much danger and toil merely to set a new dark lord in Sauron's place. We cannot use it. There is no one who would not be corrupted."

Boromir's eyes glinted as he gazed at the golden ring, and he soon deduced that the one who had brought it forth must also have been the one to carry it to Rivendell, and he swiftly put together that this was his riddle come true, "The Halfling!" he muttered, half to himself, "Is this then the doom of Minas Tirith come at last? But why then should we seek a broken sword?"

"The words were not the doom of Minas Tirith," said Aragorn, pointing out Boromir's tendency to overlook what did not concern him or his land and wondering how far Boromir's desire to save his homeland would drive him. The heir to the throne of Gondor decided to make a gesture of peace to the captain of Gondor, the man who could be his steward, and so spoke of plans only half thought out.

"But doom and great deeds are indeed at hand." he said, "For the Sword that was Broken is the Sword of Elendil that broke beneath him when he fell. It has been treasured by his heirs when all other heirlooms were lost; for it was spoken of old among us that it should be made again when the Ring, Isildur's Bane, was found. Now you have seen the sword that you have sought, what would you ask? Do you wish for the House of Elendil to return to the Land of Gondor?" he asked, carefully monitoring Boromir's reactions.

The captain evidently decided that outright hostility was not appropriate yet and so gave a more diplomatic answer than was his wont, "I was not sent to beg any boon, but to seek only the meaning of a riddle," answered Boromir proudly, refusing to lose face in front of his new rival, and conscious that he could not leave yet when such important matters were being discussed, "Yet we are hard pressed, and the Sword of Elendil would be a help beyond our hope - is such a thing could indeed return out of the shadows of the past." he said grudgingly, looking at the ranger Aragorn with doubt, anger and resentment in his eyes.

For her part, Arwen watched the exchange carefully and her discerning eyes could see the makings of a king in her betrothed. It seemed that Aragorn was finally accepting his destiny.

Beside her, Buffy had also watched them with interest; she thought that Boromir had all of his father's pride but not as many of his failings and that if Denethor's influence could be removed from him, he might come across as being a nicer guy, and perhaps slightly more manageable.

She watched curiously as Bilbo shifted in his seat, throwing many disgruntled looks in Boromir's direction on his friend's behalf until finally he abruptly stood up and burst out with a rhyme, fully intending to put the man of Gondor in his place for being so insulting towards Aragorn.

"All that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost,

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not touched by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,

A light from the shadows shall spring;

Renewed shall be the blade that was broken,

The crownless shall again by king." he rattled off, making several Elvenlords, and rangers, hide a smile behind their hands.

Aragorn wordlessly thanked Bilbo for his support and then just as wordlessly told him to back off. Bilbo complied reluctantly, plopping back into his seat somewhat irritated.

"For my part I forgive your doubt," Aragorn addressed Boromir, trying to both ease Boromir's dislike of him, and to take his attention away from the eldest hobbit, "Little do I resemble the figures of Elendil and Isildur as they stand carven in their majesty in the halls of Denethor. I am but the heir of Isildur, not Isildur himself. I have had a hard life and a long one; and the leagues of my journeys that lie between here and Gondor are but a small part in the count of my journeys…." he said, and saw the twins, Buffy and Legolas all give him a look that bespoke plainly of their astonishment at his gross under-representation of his many journeys, adventures and misadventures alike.

"But my home, such as I have, is in the North." Aragorn continued, looking in Arwen's direction for a moment, "For here the heirs of Valandil have ever dwelt in long line unbroken from father unto son for many generations. Our days have darkened, and we have dwindled; but ever the Sword has passed to a new keeper. And this I will say to you, Boromir, ere I end. Lonely men we are, Rangers of the wild, hunters - but hunters ever of the servants of the Enemy; for they are found in many places, not in Mordor only." Aragorn said and unbeknownst to him, power was in his voice and Boromir was forced to listen to the words he did not want to hear, whether he willed it or not.

"If Gondor, Boromir, has been a stalwart tower, we have played another part. Many evil things there are that your strong walls and bright swords do not stay. You know little of the lands beyond your bounds. Peace and freedom, do you say?" Aragorn scoffed, "The North would have know them little but for us. Fear would have destroyed them. But when dark things come from the houseless hills, or creep from the sunless woods, they fly from us. What roads would any dare to tread, what safety would there be in quiet lands, or in the homes of simple men at night, if the Dúnedain were asleep, or were all gone into the grave?"

The ranger's tone changed, becoming slightly bitter and weary as he related the Dúnedain's troubles, "And yet less thanks have we than you. Travellers scowl at us and countrymen give us scornful names. 'Strider' I am to one fat man who lives within a day's march of foes that would freeze his heart, or lay his little town in ruin, if he were not guarded ceaselessly. Yet we would not have it otherwise. If simple folk are kept free from care and fear, simple they will be, and we must be secret to keep them so. That has been the task of my kindred, while the years have lengthened and the grass has grown.

But now the world is changing once again. A new hour comes. Isildur's Bane is found. Battle is at hand. The Sword shall be reforged. I will come to Minas Tirith ere this war is over."

All was silent when he finished, and Boromir had to tear his eyes away from Aragorn, "Be that as it may," he said, unwilling to show how much that impassioned speech had affected him, "Gondor has no King. She needs none. And it will take more than a sword and a fool's claim to convince anybody that the king has indeed returned. And even more, why should we admit to our city, one from whose line only sorrow has sprung? Their weakness has led to Gondor's downfall and defeat on numerous occasions and to Arnor's fall. Nay, I am not satisfied with any of his arguments and I shall hold true to my lord father's rule, - never shall a mere ranger sit on the throne of Gondor." Boromir said, conscious of the ill will of some of the council towards him.

Aragorn knew better than to get into an argument with this son of Denethor, but Buffy was not prepared to let a little upstart go round insulting her friends like that.

"Your father says a lot of things," she said, drawing the man's attention towards her, "Doesn't mean they make any sense. Because to tell you the brutal truth, your father is an idiot."

Boromir bristled with anger at her words, "And what grudge do you have to make such an ill founded claim, lady?" he said with bare civility.

"Oh, I met the man," Buffy said airily, "A but too power mad for my tastes. Trust me, your grandfather wasn't exactly eager to surrender rule to Denethor either."

Boromir snorted derisively, "You speak of places and people that you have never met and have the gall to insult my family so?" he all but sneered, "And who are you to belong here? As we already have a man who wants to be king, I must guess that you believe yourself to be the long lost queen of Harad or some other nonsense?"

Buffy's smile was chilly and menacing, and never reached her eyes, "No, I think that I'll leave the nonsense to you. But listen here boy," she hissed, "I saw you born, don't think that I don't know what I'm talking about."

"You? A compulsive liar now, are we?" Boromir said, his anger growing, "You are younger than me."

Buffy decided to stick to her little white lie with regards to her ageing, "The Dúnedain are slow to age and long to live," she replied, "But maybe you've heard of me from your father. My name back then was Eliza, Ecthelion's lieutenant."

She knew that the Dwarves and hobbits were staring at her, but ignored them to enjoy Boromir's flabbergasted reaction, and Aragorn's knowing smirk.

"Is this true?" Boromir demanded of Lord Elrond, "Is she that wench?"

Buffy's eyes narrowed dangerously at his naming of her, but Elrond replied in the same long suffering tone usually reserved for his own children. "Yes, she speaks the truth. You would do well to listen to her, son of Denethor."

"Believe me now?" Buffy said, "Let me just make this clear; I was there, helping Finduilas when she brought you into this world, I can sure as hell take you back out of it. Don't push me, buddy. And I don't like being called a 'wench' Mr Big Shot."

Boromir just stared at her, trying to reconcile the woman before him with the tales that he occasionally heard from his father. Luckily for them, Gandalf decided to intervene again, "Perhaps, you should tell your own tale ere we move on, Buffy?" he asked, "As you seemed to have captured everyone's attention at the moment." he reprimanded.

Buffy was unrepentant, some people just needed to have their egos taken down a peg or two once in a while, and in her view Boromir was one of them.

"There's not too much to tell, really," Buffy began, "I've been patrolling the north for the last ten years now, and all I can say is that Sauron's little monsters have increased tenfold since I first started working in that area. He's sending in spies and nasties to hunt for something. Of course now we know what, but chances are he knows a lot about us too. And I wouldn't exactly be surprised if there were a welcoming party outside Rivendell just waiting for us."

"An ambush?" Gandalf asked, leaning forward.

"I doubt they'll brave the river when it flooded on top of the Ringwraiths, who to them are like the head nasties, but I think they're gonna pounce on anybody who sets foot outside the borders. They can't get in so they'll wait until we come out." Buffy said, authoritively, "They want the Ring. Badly."

"Like you would know anything about warfare," Boromir muttered from across the room, but Buffy heard him and her eyes narrowed in annoyance. If she kept this up, she was so going to get crows feet.

Buffy deliberately ignored him, vowing to get him back later, and Gandalf decided that the time was ripe to tell part of his story.

"Lady Buffy's observations are true," Gandalf said, "The enemy is hunting the Ring, and his eye is fixed on Rivendell. Already wargs prowl outside the borders. I know this for fact."

The wizard paused, leaning back in his chair as if to get comfortable, "Some here will remember that many years ago I myself dared to pass the doors of the Necromancer in Dol Guldur, and secretly explored his ways, and found thus that our fears were true; he was none other than Sauron, our Enemy of old, at length taking shape and power again. Some, too, will remember also that Sauron dissuaded us from open deeds against him, and for long we watched him only. Yet at last, as his shadow grew, Saruman yielded, and the Council put forth its strength and drove the evil out of Mirkwood - and that was in the very year of the finding of this Ring; a strange chance, if chance it was..."

Gandalf's eyes had hardened in memory of those days, the flame that was a maiar spirit flickering behind them, hidden but still visible to her eyes, and Buffy quickly realised that this was a sore spot for him. She knew how he felt, she never liked getting her butt kicked either.

"But we were too late, as Elrond foresaw, Sauron also had watched us and long prepared against our stroke, governing Mordor from afar through Minas Morgul, where his Nine servants dwelt, until all was ready. Then he gave away before us, but only feigned to flee, and soon after came to the Dark Tower and openly declared himself. Then for the last time the Council met; for now we learned that he was seeking ever more eagerly for the One. We feared than that he had some news of which we knew nothing of. But Saruman said nay, and repeated what he had said to us before; that the one would never again be found in Middle Earth."

"Saruman ever dissuaded the council from ever actively searching for the Ring," Arwen said, speaking up, "Lady Galadriel always wanted Gandalf to be its head but Saruman took that honour as he said that he was the head of the order of Istari (wizards)."

Gandalf nodded in agreement, "Aye Saruman was ever eager to downplay the risks of inaction. 'At the worst,' said he, 'Our Enemy knows that we have it not, and that it still is lost. But what was lost may yet be found, he thinks. Fear not! His hope will cheat him! Have I not earnestly studied this matter? Into Anduin the Great it fell; and long ago, while Sauron slept, it was rolled down the river to the sea. There let it lie until the End.'"

Here Gandalf fell silent, mentally chastising himself for his folly, "There I was at fault," he said, "I was lulled by the words of Saruman the Wise; but I should have sought for the truth sooner, and our peril would now be less."

"We were all at fault," said Elrond, reassuring his friend, "And but for your vigilance the Darkness, maybe, would already be upon us. By say on!"

"From the first my heart misgave me," Gandalf went on, "And against all reason that I knew, I desired to know how this thing came to Gollum, and how long he had possessed it. So I set a watch for him, guessing that he would ere long come forth from his darkness to seek for his treasure. He came, but he escaped and was not found. And then alas! I let the matter rest, watching and waiting only, as we have too often done.

Time passed with many cares, until my doubts were awakened again to sudden fear. Whence came the hobbit's ring? What, if my fear was true, should he be done with it? Those things I must decide. But I spoke yet of my dread to none, knowing the peril of an untimely whisper, if it went astray. In all the long years with the Dark Tower treason has ever been our greatest foe."

The wizard paused, "That was seventeen years ago. Soon I became aware that spies of many sorts, beasts and birds, were gathered round the Shire, and my fear grew. I called for the help of the Dúnedain, and their watch was doubled; and I opened my heart to Dagnir first, asking her to keep a watch on the north and especially on the Shire, and then to Aragorn, the heir of Isildur."

"And so I," said Aragorn, adding his part of the story, "counselled that we should hunt for Gollum, too late though it may seem. And since it seemed fit that Isildur's heir should labour to repair Isildur's fault, I went with Gandalf on the long and hopeless search."

Then Gandalf told how they had explored the whole length of Wilderland down even to the Mountains of Shadow and the fences of Mordor, hunting relentlessly and often hopelessly for the creature that could give Sauron what he wanted so badly.

Buffy had heard a lot about that trek from Legolas. Apparently Aragorn and the creature had arrived in Mirkwood and Aragorn had been a wreck. Covered in bite marks and scratches from Gollum, slathered in mud and dirt, his hair looking like the proverbial bird's nest and smelling like a wet bear.

Thranduil had apparently just been so pleased to see them.

Especially since Aragorn bore such a lovely gift to his woods.

But here Gandalf no more of Gollum for the time being, knowing that there was another part of that saga yet to come and instead spoke of the Ring and it's awful legacy. And then he said the words that darkened the skies and caused shivers to skitter down everyone's spine.

'Twas the words engraved onto the Ring, in their original form that was the Black Tongue, despised by all present.

A shadow seemed to pass over the high sun, and the porch for a moment grew dark. All trembled, and the Elves stopped their ears.

"Never before has any voice dared to utter words of that tongue in Imladris, Gandalf the Grey," said Elrond reproachfully when the shadow had passed, glaring balefully at the unrepentant wizard.

"And let us hope that none will ever speak it here again," answered Gandalf, giving Elrond a look that plainly bespoke that he would say his piece, whether it was to Elrond's tastes or not, "Nonetheless I do not ask your pardon, Master Elrond. For if that tongue is not soon to be heard in every corner of the West, then let all put doubt aside that this thing is indeed what the Wise have declared; the treasure of the Enemy, fraught with all his malice; and in it lies a great part of his strength of old. Out of the Black Years come the words that the Smiths of Eregion heard, and knew that they had been betrayed.

One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the Darkness bind them."

All there shivered once more at the words, especially those who understood their full meaning, but Buffy had had enough of prophecies and words written in stone, or gold as this case may be and so she spoke her mind, "They can only hurt you if you let them." she said, "And this Gollum thingy managed to hide from the Ring for four hundred years, without going all Dark Lordy. If you're scared of an inscription, who the hell is gonna be brave enough to even look at the Ring? Let's grow some spines people, if all Sauron needs to send us running is words, then we might as well start picking out our own chains now."

Elrond nodded at her words, "The lady is right, 'tis not the council's purpose to uncover the fear of the past but to forge the future. Speak on, Gandalf."

The wizard sighed and fingered his beard idly, "And now we must come back to Gollum, for I fear that he has yet some part to play in events for all his malice."

"He is a small thing, you say, this Gollum?" Boromir interrupted, "Small, but great in mischief. What became of him? To what doom did you put him?" Boromir asked.

"He is in prison, but no worse," said Aragorn, deciding to tackle this issue as he had been Gollum's personal jail warden for many weeks of travel, "He had suffered much and the fear of Sauron lies black on his heart. Still I for one am glad that he is safely kept by the Elves of Mirkwood. His malice is great and gives him a strength hardly to be believed in one so lean and withered. He could work much mischief still, if he were free." Aragorn said darkly.

Both Arwen and Buffy surreptitiously looked at Legolas, whose face had paled slightly in dismay. Both ladies knew that the Woodland Prince had not told Aragorn of the events surrounding Gollum's escape and having had the ranger's ire directed towards him already, he bore the risk of unleashing Aragorn's temper.

"The tidings I was sent to bring must now be told." Legolas spoke up, quietly but clearly able to be heard, "They are not good, but only here have I learned how evil they may seem to those here. Gollum has escaped." the prince's tone clearly carried his shame at his perceived failure to all those who knew him well enough to read it, but Aragorn heeded not his friend's guilty temperament so great was his surprise.

"Escaped?" cried Aragorn in shock and dismay, "That is ill news indeed! How came the folk of Thranduil to fail in their trust?"

Buffy visibly winced at Aragorn's accusing tone and she got the distinct feeling that Legolas would soon be back to blaming himself again. Aragorn would really need to hone his diplomacy ere he became king.

"Not through lack of watchfulness," said Legolas, not meeting Arwen's concerned gaze, "We guarded this creature day and night, at Gandalf's bidding, much though we wearied of the task."

The fair Elf paused, recollecting what he thought to be his own mistakes in handling the creature, "In the days of fair weather, we led Gollum through the woods, and there was a high tree standing alone far from the others which he liked to climb. Often we let him mount up to the highest branches, until he felt the free wind; but we set a guard at the tree's foot. One day he refused to come down, and the guards has no mind to climb after him: he had learned the trick of clinging to boughs with his feet as well as with his hands; so they sat by the tree far into the night."

Legolas's tone hardened as he recounted how his people were killed, "It was that very night of summer, yet moonless and starless, that orcs came on us unawares, we drove them off after some time; they were many and fierce, but they came from over the mountains, and were unused to the woods. When the battle was over, we found that Gollum was gone, and his guards were slain or taken. It then seemed plain to us that the attack had been made for his rescue, and that he knew of it beforehand. How that was contrived we cannot guess; but Gollum is cunning, and the spies of the Enemy are many. The dark things that were driven out in the year of the Dragon's fall have returned in greater numbers, and Mirkwood is again an evil place, save where our realm is maintained."

The prince raised his eyes to look around the council, judging the reactions and noting the Dwarves' snickering and contempt, "We have failed to recapture Gollum. We came on his trail among those of many orcs, and it plunged deep into the Forest, going south. But ere long it escaped out skill, and we dared not continue the hunt; for we were drawing nigh to Dol Guldur, and that is still a very evil place; we do not go that way."

"Let me guess," Buffy said, "He got some of his orcy buddies to help him fly the coop. Literarily."

"Buffy, you must not jump to conclusions…" Erestor chastised her.

"No jumping. Look - feet firmly planted." Buffy exclaimed, "I was only saying that it was just a tad too convenient that he just happened to refuse to go inside on the night of a raid."

"I agree," Elrond said, "And I lay no fault upon the Elves of the Wood. The cunning of the Enemy must never be underestimated and Thranduil's realm has already paid a heavy price."

Legolas looked gratefully at the Elvenlord whilst Arwen, feeling the Prince's discomfort, drew attention away from Gollum's escape, "Saruman has betrayed us," she announced regally, "He serves Mordor now as Gandalf the Grey found out to his own detriment."

"He imprisoned me, and he hungers for the Ring," Gandalf said, taking over from the elleth (She-Elf). "He can no longer be counted our ally."

"That is evil news," Legolas said, "But my lord father never trusted him and 'tis better that his betrayal is now known than hidden until it was too late."

"Well spoken Thranduil (son of Thranduil)," Gandalf agreed, "'Tis an evil business but Saruman has great power to do evil in his quest for power and he is a danger to all who are here today, and their lands."

"Does this not also affect the Rohirrim?" Boromir asked, "The Wizard's Vale is near the Gap of Rohan, is it not?"

"Many things have been said about the Riders of Rohan," Aragorn said, "Some say that they now pay tribute and levies to Mordor."

"I rode with the Rohirrim years ago," Buffy said firmly, wondering if Aragorn really believed those stupid lies or if he was just trying to wind Boromir up, "If Théoden has fallen to shadow, his kin has not. The Rohirrim do not treat with Sauron. He steals the horses he needs, and it's been a long time since there were many black horses in the Riddermark because of it. Rohan might be beset, but don't underestimate them."

"I do not," Boromir said stiffly, "They have long been allies of Gondor."

"And long ignored by Denethor," Buffy muttered.

Elrond cleared his throat meaningfully, "Now that all has been recounted, the time has come for hard decisions. We must decide what is to be done with the Ring." the Elvenlord said ominously.

"Can the power of Imladris not guard it?" Galdor from the Havens asked.

"The time of the Elves is fading." Arwen said, sounding very much like her revered grandmother, "What power that remains lies with us, here in Imladris, or with Círdan at the Havens, or in Lórien. But have they the strength, have we the strength to withstand the Enemy, the coming of Sauron at the last, when all else is overthrown?"

"I have not the strength," Elrond said, "Neither have they." The Elves would never have that kind of strength again on this side of the Great Sea unless the world was unmade.

"Then if the Ring cannot be kept from him for ever by strength," said Glorfindel, leaning forward in his seat, his bright golden hair gleaming in the sun, "Two things remain for us to attempt; to send it over Sea, or to destroy it."

"But Gandalf has revealed to us that we cannot destroy it by any craft we here possess," said Elrond, "And they who dwell beyond the Sea would not receive it; for good or ill it belongs to Middle Earth; it is for us who still dwell here to decide."

"Then," said Glorfindel, "Let us cast it into the deeps, and so make the lies of Saruman come true. In the Sea it would be safe."

"Not safe for ever," said Gandalf, shaking his head, "There are things in the deep waters and lands may change. We should be the final end to this menace, even if we do not hope to make one."

"Then," Erestor said, "There are but two courses, as Glorfindel already has declared; to hide the Ring for ever; or to unmake it. But both are beyond our power. Who will read this riddle for us?"

"None here can do so," Elrond said gravely, "At least none can foretell what will come to pass, if we take this road or that. But it seems to me now clear which is the road that we must take. Now at this last, we must take a hard road, a road unforeseen. There lies our hope, if hope it be. To walk into peril - to Mordor. It seems that we have only that one choice. The Ring must be destroyed. We must send the Ring to the Fire."

"Then what are we waiting for?!" Gimli cried. The Dwarf surged forward with his axe and tried to smash the Ring, but he only got thrown back onto the ground while his axe was shattered into pieces.

Several people, Buffy and Frodo most noticeably, flinched when an echo of the dark words of the Ring followed in Gimli's wake, as if it were mocking the Dwarf's feeble attempts to destroy it.

Elrond looked at the rash Dwarf in annoyance, "The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Glóin, by any craft that we here possess."

"And why is the Ring not used?" Boromir growled out, "Cannot even the Elves wield it to overthrow Sauron?"

"Nothing is evil in the beginning. Even Sauron was not so. I fear to take the Ring to hide it. I will not take the Ring to wield it." Elrond said, as Gandalf and the other Elves echoed his statement.

"The Ring was made in the fires of Mount Doom." Elrond said, "Only there can it be unmade. It must be taken deep into Mordor, and cast back into the fiery chasm from whence it came. One of you must do this."

"One does not simply walk into Mordor." Boromir growled out, rubbing his forehead with his hand as if he was talking to a particularly dumb group of people, "Its black gates are guarded by more than just orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep. And the great Eye is ever watchful. It is a barren wasteland, riddled with fire and ash and dust. The very air that you breathe is a poisonous fume. Not with ten thousand men could you do this. It is folly." he hissed.

"You gotta go there to come back first," Buffy said, "Nothing's impossible unless you don't try. And speaking from personal experience there. I got in and out of Mordor easy enough."

"We do not have the luxury of the armies of old, son of Denethor," Aragorn said calmly, "Every realm's standing army is less than what it was the last time Sauron arose to threaten them. Stealth and patience are our only advantages. We must finish Sauron if we are to have peace."

"So said the Last Alliance. I for one, Aragorn, am not waiting there for seven years." Buffy said, "Marching in there isn't gonna get anything done 'cept getting us killed. And the Ring snatched. Think of something else. Something off the wall. They usually work best, you know 'fortune favours the brave' and all that."

"One cannot just stroll into Mordor, despite what you claim!" Boromir cried in anger at Buffy.

Legolas rose up in anger for the treatment of his friend, "Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said? The Ring must be destroyed!"

Arwen sighed, and then leaned over to whisper to the slayer, "Do you think we shall be able to sneak out before it gets violent?"

Buffy shook her head, "I kinda doubt it," she said wryly.

"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?!" Gimli said, looking at the Elf with loathing.

Boromir continued on his pessimistic streak, "And if we fail, what then? What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?" he demanded.

Gimli just growled and cried out, "I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf!"

Nearly all the Elves stood up in anger, with only Legolas holding them back from showing the Naugrim Elven fury, while the Dwarves rushed to back up Gimli, and even Gandalf waded into the mess.

"Never trust an Elf!" Gimli roared, only adding fuel to the bickering crowd.

And then Gandalf's voice rose above the din, "Do you not understand? While you bicker amongst yourselves, Sauron's power grows! None can escape it! You'll all be destroyed!"

Both Buffy and Frodo gasped as a voice echoed in their minds, a low sibilant whisper, 'Ash nazg durbatuluk, Ash nazg gimbatul, Ash nazg thrakatuluk, Agh burzum-ishi krimpatul…' One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.

"Do you think we can try to keep the paranoia and the character assassination to a minimum during this council?" Buffy reprimanded, debating whether or not to start flinging people around. "We're supposed to be talking not arguing!" she cried, "But go right on ahead! So long as we can keep the world from ending and all the rest of the little stuff!"

Elrond seemed to be debating also on whether or not to let Buffy break up the fight and regain control of his council.

Frodo stood up abruptly, "I will take it! I will take it!"

Everything came to a screeching halt and Gandalf looked pained at his words.

"See? Under control." Buffy whispered to Elrond, earning herself a sharp glare.

"I will take the Ring to Mordor... Though - though I do not know the way." Frodo said hesitantly.

Gandalf stepped forward to stand next to Frodo, putting a hand on the brave hobbit's shoulder and wondering if the halfling had any idea what he had just vowed to do. "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins. As long as it is yours to bear." he said.

Aragorn's mind was conflicted but after a moment, he came forward to kneel in front of Frodo, "If by my life or death, if I can protect you, I will." he said sincerely, "You have my sword."

Elrond looked surprised, and even more so when Gandalf winked at him. Buffy and Arwen had to repress sudden giggles at the perplexed look on the Elvenlord's face.

"And you have my bow." Legolas said, wanting to make up for Gollum's escape. He did not notice Arwen's worried eyes following him.

"And my axe." said Gimli, glowering at the Elf. He could never let it be said that Gimli Glóin's son had let the One Ring march into Mordor alongside an Elf!

Boromir walked slowly towards Frodo, his face grave, "You carry the fates of us all, little one." Grey eyes narrowed as he watched Aragorn place a protective hand on Frodo's shoulder as he approached. So the ranger trusted him not. What a surprise. "If this is indeed the will of the Council, then Gondor will see it done."

"Here now!" shouted Sam, jumping out from behind some bushes and running up to Frodo, "Mr. Frodo's not going anywhere without me!" he said stoutly.

Elrond smiled, half amused and half exasperated, "No, indeed, it is hardly possible to separate you from him, even when he is summoned to a secret Council, and you are not." he intoned sarcastically.

Merry and Pippin rushed in, causing Elrond to give them his renowned death glare and Buffy and Arwen to keep their faces strategically blank to cover laughter, "Oi! We're coming too!" Merry said. "You'll have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us."

"Anyway," Pippin chimed in, "you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission. Quest. Thing…"

Merry gave him a long suffering look, "Well that rules you out, Pip."

Buffy studied the bedraggled group gathered; one crazy coot of a wizard, two vying lords of Gondor at each other's throats, one guilty Elf, one enraged Dwarf and four clueless hobbits. Obviously the task force of dreams.

But her gaze was always drawn back to Frodo.

The hobbit looked frightened and miserable and as if he had no idea why he had just done what he did. Buffy could sympathise, the slayer 'saviour of the world' thing had been thrust upon her too. And looking at him, she knew he would need someone to show him the ropes and hopefully teach him about the hard things and decisions in life without him having to learn them the hard way like she had had to.

Stepping forward, she looked at Frodo, and her gaze was no longer her own but that of the slayer, "Can you do this, Frodo?" she demanded, "Can you see this through at all costs? Are you strong enough to do this?"

Frodo looked at her in surprise, "I think I am," he muttered softly, unwilling to meet those unnaturally blazing eyes.

"You think?" Buffy said in disbelief, "With that reply, the answer could only be no. So it looks like someone's gonna have to babysit the lot of you so I'll tag along too. Someone has to go there who actually knows how to get to Mordor," her glance drifted to Aragorn, "And accidentally stumbling into it so does not count!"

Elrond nodded, "Ten companions. So be it! I can do no more. You have all chosen. You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring."

"Great." Pippin said brightly, "Where are we going?" he then spotted the ring on the table, "Oooh! Can I try it on?"

"Oh, absolutely not!" Elrond replied in something resembling shock.

And so the Fellowship of the Ring was formed but not all were happy with it.

Aragorn tried desperately to hide his displeasure at Buffy being chosen. Valar knew she was a brilliant and deadly warrior, more than capable of holding her own and would undoubtedly be a great help to the Fellowship. But all Aragorn was thinking was that she could be going to certain death. Ever since he had found out about her calling as slayer, he had mourned the loss of her youth that it had caused and deeply resented the brave woman being forced to enter into wars not of her own making.

It was much the same when he thought of Legolas. He had not thought Elrond would send Thranduil's only heir on this quest. Had not even considered it really and now one of his dearest friends, his cherished brother, was joining him in this journey of utmost peril. Thranduil would not be pleased.

He most certainly was not.

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Buffy was leaving the council chambers after a lengthy talk with Elrond when as she turned into one of the lesser used halls, a shortcut of sorts to her rooms, an arm like a steel band wrapped around her.

Looking at the man responsible, she graced him with a deadly glare. "Aragorn," she greeted, "Any particular reason you're manhandling me?"

"You joined the Fellowship," Aragorn replied darkly, leading her along the corridor, his arm still around her, until they reached his rooms and he had hauled her inside.

"You noticed, huh?" Buffy said, "What did you think I was doing? Advertising my intention to out-eat Bilbo?"

"Are you out of your mind? Do you not know what this quest entails?" Aragorn hissed angrily, letting go of her and crossing his arms across his chest to purposefully glower at her.

"I'm sure there's nothing I couldn't do half dead." Buffy said, "Why are you making with the dictator routine?"

"'Tis so nice to know you kept that humility you were known for." Aragorn said, "But again, I ask you, do you have any idea what lies ahead of the Fellowship on the road to Mordor?!"

Buffy cocked her head to the side and pretended to think, "Well…" she began, "I think we're all doomed to badness. But that's just experience speaking. It's not like I'm a slayer or anything, now is it?" she finished tightly.

"This quest has little chance of ending good," Aragorn said.

"I know, but I like to keep things positive," Buffy said, "After all, if you thought the whole thing was heading for a terrible, catastrophic end, you'd abandon everything or give up. I learned quite a while ago not to give up."

"I do not want you to go." Aragorn said imperiously.

Buffy just looked at him, "Well tough, but I don't answer to you remember?" she huffed in an annoyed manner, "Look, it's kinda amusing that you're making with the overprotective routine, but hello? I am the slayer. I get to protect you, not the other way round."

"I forbid you to go Buffy!" Aragorn cried in anger, "You would only die!"

"Well, it's nice to know that you think so little of me, but sadly, that argument hasn't worked. Ever. So give it up before you get another punch, ranger boy." Buffy answered angrily.

"Will you not listen to reason? Mordor is no place for you!"

"It's no place for the hobbits here, but hey, they're going!" Buffy exclaimed, "Stop doing this Aragorn. I have no intention of arguing for another ten years and I don't think you want Arwen and Boromir to see getting thrown out yet another window."

"Can you not see that I only wish to help you?" Aragorn said quietly, "Why can you not just agree to this and let us part in peace?"

"Because I gave my word I would help Frodo, I never said I would help you." Buffy said, "I'm the thing monsters have nightmares about it. Not some poor defenceless maiden that needs protection. Concentrate on the hobbits Aragorn, they seem to strike me as the ones who should be staying behind."

"So the glory of it attracts you then? A noble quest would add to your accomplishments, would it not?"

"Glory-seeking is not really my thing." Buffy said, "Or you would have already witnessed 'Buffy does a Glorfindel on the Balrog' in Moria, but because I'm not some glory seeking gold-digger as you're suggesting, I thought, 'What? A flaming death for yours truly? I don't think so.' and let it be. Can we stop the total idiocy that is this conversation now before I hurt you?" she demanded.

"Can I not be worried about you?!" Aragorn demanded.

"Really?" Buffy replied, "Why me? It seems that besides Gandalf I am in need of the least protection, why does Legolas miss out on the lecture and I get a double dose of it?!"

Aragorn's expression darkened further, "Thranduilion is next," he said.

"Pathetic much?" Buffy said, "We are grown warriors not babies, Aragorn!"

"You have no idea what you have pledged to do! Legolas belongs with his people and you have already done enough for Middle Earth!"

"I'm sorry, is it gang up on Buffy day and nobody told me?" Buffy said, "This was my choice Aragorn! Not yours! Mine!"

"Am I supposed to be sorry about caring for you?!" Aragorn said, his voice rising, "Because you cannot expect me to rejoice in this… whim."

"Oh are we back to blaming me for thisagain?" Buffy asked, her own face grim.

"Of course!" Aragorn exclaimed, "You will not listen to reason, or consider the wishes of my heart!"

"Just checking." Buffy said sarcastically, "But let me just make this clear for all the numbskulls in the audience, which would be you, that I don't have to consider your 'wishes'. I'm my own woman and I do what I damn well please!"

She turned to leave the room, but Aragorn grabbed her roughly by her sleeve and tore the delicate fabric. Buffy's mad level just went up big time.

"I cannot believe you did that!" she cried, "Okay, that's I am so beyond mad with you now!"

"You're mad now?" he repeated in visible disbelief.

"You attacked a woman's wardrobe. What did you expect?" Buffy replied, "And I would consider myself pretty tolerant for putting up with your 'reasoning' for me not to go. So why don't you quit with the harassment before I get violent?"

"Buffy…" Aragorn began but the slayer cut him off.

"Just leave it, Aragorn."

He grabbed her again, "Will you please sit down?! I am trying to apologise here!" he said in frustration. "I know I cannot stop you from going but that does not mean that I did not have to try!"

Buffy stood up and once more headed towards the door, "But it does mean that you could have some respect for my decisions. Namárië (farewell) Aragorn," she said and exited the room to find two young hobbits pressed to the door, clearly eavesdropping and decided to have some fun. The hobbits at hearing her coming tried to run but Merry accidentally smacked into the wall, stopping their flight and allowing Buffy to catch them in the act.

"Why do you start acting all weird when I'm around?" she said suddenly, scaring the living daylights out of the two guilty periannath (hobbits).

"Me?" Pippin said nervously, "Me not weird." he said trying to look innocent.

Buffy wasn't fooled in the slightest.

"What's up with you? Did you get into the sugar again?" she said, baiting them.

Merry and Pippin shook their heads in the negative, Buffy nodded her own in confirmation. "Eavesdropping Master Hobbits?" she said, "Tsk, tsk. Very bad form from you two and full marks on the botched running away. You're gonna have to learn to do that better."

"We panicked." Merry said sheepishly, trying to pass this off as a normal occurrence.

Pippin echoed him eagerly, nodding his head, "Uh-huh. That's exactly what happened!"

"Next time boys, let's try to be a little more inconspicuous and for the record, eavesdrop on me again and I will personally make sure that you are bald and on a diet for the next century."

Their eyes widened comically and they both looked at Buffy in horrified surprise. But the slayer just laughed and walked away.

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Beyond and above spread an expanse of sky, dark blue as at twilight; rising into the sky, was a woman's shape to the bust, portrayed in tints of dusk and soft as I could combine. The dim forehead was crowned with a star, the lineaments below were seen as through the suffusion of vapour; the eyes shone dark and wild; the hair streamed shadowy, like a beamless cloud torn by storm or by electric travail. On the neck lay a pale reflection like moonlight; the same faint lustre touched the train of thin clouds from which rose and bowed this vision of the Evening Star.

- From the novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.

An isolated section of Celebrían's gardens, the Last Homely House, Rivendell, 3018 TA, October 30.

When Aragorn arrived at the bridge he considered 'theirs', her familiar mithril gaze followed his every step.

Arwen Undómiel, also called Arwen Peredhel (half-Elven) the Evenstar of her people, stood there patiently waiting for him. Her raven hair was unbound save for a small cap of white gems in her hair, making it seem as the very stars had come down from the heavens to grace her with their presence.

Those mithril hued eyes were fixed on him, and her lovely face was turned towards him, waiting for him expectantly.

Here in this scene of hazy twilight in the hidden valley, Aragorn was sure he had never seen such a vision.

For her part, as Arwen watched the man approach, she briefly regretted the pain that she was about to inflict on his tender heart, but such feelings were swiftly replaced by the sense of rightness about her choice that prevailed over her fondness for Aragorn.

She had made her decision, her choice as one of the Peredhel.

Now, she was to finally voice it.

She waited until he came to her and took her hands in his, "Undómiel," he breathed, "Vanima…" (beautiful)

"Renich i lú i erui govannem?" (Do you remember when we first met?) she said softly, her expression tender for Aragorn's unknown doom.

Aragorn smiled at her, holding her close despite Arwen's as of yet subtle attempts to step back, "Nauthannen i ned ôl reniannen." (I thought I had strayed into a dream.) he replied, gazing at her intently.

Arwen bowed her head, "Gwenwin in enninath. Ú-'arnech in naeth i si celich. Renech i beth i pennen?" (Long years have passed. You did not wear the troubles you carry now. Do you remember what I told you?) she said, both dreading the scene that was to come and welcoming it as it would set her free.

"You said you would bind yourself to me, forsaking the immortal life of your people." Aragorn said, wondering why she brought this up now.

Arwen squeezed Aragorn's hands which were still holding hers, and took a step back, immediately noting the confusion on his face.

"We pledged our troth on Cerin Amroth, many years ago to your race, and now the time has come to settle that pledge anew." Arwen said, trying to be as gentle as possible to the man that she had once loved, even if it had been nothing more than a dream.

"Arwen, wait," Aragorn said, "Before we discuss this, there is something I must say to you, something that must justly be said ere we speak of troths again. Idhren emmen menna gui ethwel. Hae o auth a nîr a naeth." (You have a chance for another life. Away from war... grief... despair.)

Arwen looked at him closely, sensing that this was not spoken from the heart but from the urging of her adar (father), "Why are you saying this?"

Aragorn forced himself to say the words that had haunted him ever since Elrond had spoken to him, "I am mortal; you are Elfkind. It was a dream, Arwen, nothing more."

"You do not speak from your heart," Arwen chastised, "The time for lies is over, Estel (hope). And while I think your regard is in your mind unchanged, my feelings have not remained so."

Aragorn felt the first skitters of apprehension in his mind, "What are you saying, meleth?" (love)

"Aragorn," Arwen began gently, looking into his grey eyes so that he could see she spoke true, "I cannot bind myself to you. I cannot marry you."

Aragorn reeled back as though he had been struck, "What?!" he gasped, as it felt as though his heart was being rent in two.

"Aragorn, you cannot have been blind to this," Arwen said gently, entreating the man to accept this, "Our love has faded since our pledge and though I treasure its memory, I cannot bind myself to something which does not exist anymore. I love you as a cherished brother, and I willingly release you from your betrothal. My heart is no longer yours, just as yours has never been mine."

Aragorn let all his unfathomable hurt shine through as he spoke to her, to his former lady, "Why Arwen? I have always loved you! From the moment I saw you, my heart was ever yours!" he cried, absolutely devastated as one of the certain things in his life, - Arwen's love - had been taken away from him so abruptly.

Her face was filled with understanding and sorrow, and she reached up to gently caress his face, "You believed in a dream, Aragorn. You wished to believe in it. You wished to atone for your ancestors' wrongs by not repeating their mistakes, and you were so young as to believe in the stuff of fairytales." she said softly, "You wished to make true the tale of Lúthien and Beren, you wished to be as strong as you thought he was. You do not need a dream to believe in yourself Aragorn. You do not need me to be King. It is in your very blood, and your heart is more noble than any of your line since Elendil. Yet you doubt yourself so, and you thought that our love could help you conquer the shadow."

She paused for a moment, "I had my doubts on Cerin Amroth, but I thought that time would carry them away and I wished to give you the succour you so desperately needed to fight against the Shadow and to become the King you were born to be. You never needed me as you have needed others, Aragorn and for so long have you fought your own heart in pursuit of a mere dream. I cannot let this continue Aragorn. Our hearts were never fully each other's and I cannot justify this charade any longer."

"So you would break my heart with your gentle words, lady," Aragorn said bitterly, "But it seems that 'tis ever that way, and that those you love most are the most capable of hurting you to the bone."

"You hurt now, but in the end you will thank me," Arwen said, determined not to back down in the face of his anger and grief.

Unclasping the gem at her neck, she pressed it into Aragorn's hands. The ranger looked at it in surprise, "I choose an immortal life," she said, announcing her final choice and fate as was her right, and she spoke as she closed his hand over the jewel, "But to you I would give this as a token of my affection."

"You cannot give me this." Aragorn protested, "You are no longer mine."

"It is mine to give to whom I will. Like my heart. And I wish for it to you with you on your journey, gwanur (kinsman) and for it to help you and your companions ward off the shadow."

He tried to return it to her repeatedly, "This belongs to you."

"It is a gift. Keep it." Arwen said, "And I shall only take it back when we meet again after the ending of the Shadow."

"You hope for much," Aragorn said, unwilling to look at her.

"I wish for it to help you on this dark journey, so that the grace of the Elves may go with you. Do not look on this parting with anger or regret, Aragorn, we were just not meant to be. Let us part without anger at each other, and as friends. 'Tis the start of a new beginning for both of us." Arwen said with a small and tender smile, as she tried to soothe Aragorn's hurt feelings and his supposedly broken heart, "I shall sail West with my father and my people when the time comes with no regrets. And neither should you carry any with you on your journey. Let our love go without regrets and rejoice in what you have."

"And what do I have Lady Undómiel?" Aragorn said bitterly, trying to move away, "All have forsaken me now. Even you whom I treasured above all."

Arwen looked at him, probing him and his heart, "How is it that you do not see what is before your very eyes?" she asked, holding his arm to prevent him moving away, "Listen to me, son of Arathorn, for too long have I watched you and wondered. And my eyes have been opened too, and I wonder that I know your own heart better than you seem to do."

"Would you now mock me with your words, and further injure my heart, which you have already run through with a sword?" Aragorn cried.

"Nay, I would help you find love," Arwen said, reaching out to the hurting man, "Your love for me was little more than a dream, a fantasy to succour you in times of need, but long now has your heart belonged to another, even if you did not realise it."

"What in Arda are you saying?" Aragorn demanded.

"To be blunt, Estel," Arwen said, "As it seems that you will not understand this any other way, I say this to you. You have been in love with Buffy Dagnir for decades now, without ever acknowledging it. Ever has the greater part of your heart been hers, until I was nothing more than a shadow in its recesses."

Aragorn just gaped at her, "Me? In love with Buffy?!"" he repeated incredulously, "Are you mad, Arwen?! She is a treasured friend, nothing more!"

"And still you deny it!" Arwen cried, "Her heart bleeds for love of you and you have never noticed. I admit that I was blind until recently, but you have yet to admit it at all. If she was only a dear friend as you claim, why do you care so deeply for her? Why are you so protective of her? Why do you go so far to try to keep her from harm? Why does her well-being matter so much to you? Why do you value her counsel so highly? Why does her very presence cheer you so greatly?! You cannot deny this, Aragorn. Deny anything else you want, deny my regard for you if it pleases you, but do not deny your own heart! Not when in doing so, you wound hers in the process! Wake up and open your eyes Estel! Look into your heart and see the love that you bear for her! And maybe then you can stop lying to yourself, to me and to her."

"Buffy?!" Aragorn's mind could not grasp the concept, "She is as a sister to me!"

Arwen sighed in frustration, having never noticed how truly stubborn her former lover could be, "Aragorn, you need someone who can understand you. You always have. And deep in your heart, you must have known it could never have been me. You need someone who can understand the hardships of a warrior, someone akin to you and someone who knows the darker side of the world. My adar (father) has sheltered me greatly, I know 'tis why you always sought out Buffy over me."

Aragorn winced at her words, knowing as well as she of the distance that had grown between them of late, and his own reluctance when it came to confiding in her.

The ranger who would be king was silent and Arwen spoke up again ere he could run from her and leave her message unfinished. She still had some things to do ere they parted.

"Buffy has held your heart for longer than I held yours," Arwen said without bitterness or condemnation, "And she has long hid her own feelings for you, not wishing to spoil our perceived happiness. She has a noble heart and would not intrude on us so. But the time for lies and misunderstandings is over, she is your heart's choice and I set you free to go to her, just as I set myself free to find my own mate."

Arwen removed the Ring of Barahir from her hand and returned it to the stunned heir of Isildur, "Let your heart guide you to her, mellon nín (my friend)," she said tenderly but firmly, "She will be a good match for you, better than I was, and I look forward to wishing you much joy in the future. Give her the ring, Aragorn; for it was always hers and never truly mine…"

And with those parting words, the Evenstar leaned up and placed a chaste farewell kiss on his lips, and then left, a vision of twilight melting into the growing darkness, leaving Aragorn to stare at the heirloom ring, shock and wonder freezing his very thoughts, but ever did one name come to his lips, "Buffy…."

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A/N: So? What do you think of the Revelation? Feedback please! Please READ and REVIEW!!!

Next chapter: the House of Elrond celebrates, Aragorn reels, we see a slayer on the rampage, Thranduil has a heart attack, and Elrond gets mad.

Elvish:

Havo dad - sit down

Istari - wizards

Imladris - Rivendell

Dagnir - slayer

Elleth - she-Elf

Naugrim - Dwarves

Namárië - farewell

Periannath - hobbits

Undómiel - Evenstar

Peredhel - Half-Elven

Vanima - beautiful

Adar - father

Estel - hope

Meleth - love

Gwanur - kinsman

mellon nín - my friend

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Aman - also called the Blessed Realm, Valinor or the Undying Lands. Home of the Elves in the West.

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.

Cerin Amroth - 'Amroth's Mound' in Sindarin.

Círdan - also called 'the Shipwright'. Lord of the Grey Havens. The only Elf with a beard.

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.

Ephel Dúath - Mountains of Shadow. Also called the Fence of Shadow. The mountain range separating Gondor and Mordor.

Gil-galad - Last High King of the Noldor. King of Lindon. Died during the final battle of the Last Alliance.

Heren Istarion - Order of Wizards

Istari - the Maiar who were sent from Aman in the Third Age to resist Sauron. Sindarin: Ithryn.

Ithilien - territory of Gondor, east of Anduin. In the earliest time the possession of Isildur and ruled from Minas Ithil.

Lúthien - Daughter of King Thingol of Doriath and Melian the Maia. Born in the First Age. Married a mortal man and came back from the dead as a mortal after convincing Mandos with a song to release her and her love, Beren. Considered the most beautiful Elf-maid to walk Arda. Elrond's foremother.

Mithlond - the Grey Havens. Ruled by Círdan.

Mithril - 'true-silver'. Also called 'Moria-silver'. It was the foundation of the wealth of the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm. It was worth ten times the price of gold, and is now considered priceless, because there has been no supply of it since the fall of the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm in 1980.

Morannon - The Black Gate of Mordor.

Naugrim - 'stunted ones'. Elvish term for Dwarves.

Númenor - Land of the Star. Translated 'Westland'. When Elros Half-Elven, Elrond's twin, chose to be of the Race of Men, the Valar granted him an island to rule over. It was prepared by the Valar as a dwelling place for the Edain after the First Age. Elros, granted a longer lifespan because of his Elven heritage, and the rest of the Edain who followed him were long lived as well, became Elros Tar-Minyatur, first King of Númenor.

Orthanc - the great Númenórean tower in the Circle of Isengard. Home of Saruman.

The guarded 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.

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