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: thanks for all your lovely reviews! I am sorry for the shortness of this chapter, as it is incomplete, but I'm smothering with the flu and I've been too sick to write much at all. So I'm only posting what I have done of this chapter to date and I'll try to have the rest up by early next week.
Review responses:
Allen Pitt - yes, neither Legolas or Buffy know that Aragorn's not betrothed anymore. And no, there will be no appearances from Angel. But good bit of analysis on the bond, I've been having fun plotting that out actually! And no, Buffy and Aragorn don't know that Balin's colonisation attempt failed. Buffy and Aragorn were in the mines in 2985 TA, whereas Balin didn't leave Erebor for Moria until 2989 TA, so no, they don't know how the Dwarves fared.
Anna - thanks! :) no, Merry doesn't know anything about Aragorn and Buffy, he's just teasing her.
Black Phoenyx - glad to know that you found it amusing. And I know, this fic is growing to epic proportions! Over 200,000 words! And start the LotR fic, what's stopping you? And don't you think that if I warn them, that I'll scare them away?
Boo - it referred to a lot of things. But you're not too far off.
ChibiChibi - Darker? Well, not really intentionally. That's just the way war works. And are you pleased or annoyed that I've followed the story line?
Draco's Slytherin Vampiress - power always tempts. And do you really think I'm going to tell you how this turns out?
DragonStar - people seem to be noticing those mistakes. (sighs) it seems that I just can't get them all… if you want to edit the chapters after I post them, (to save any delay) I would be delighted for you to do so. Just drop me an e-mail.
Dramaswimer - the only flaw? I thought the fact that there was no sequel as flaw enough. Alas…. And sorry, can't have an extra chapter. I have SIX tests this week! SIX!!!!
Eámanë Aldaríon - welcome back mellon nín! I missed you! And don't worry, there will be a sequel and I've got an evil, EVIL idea for one! And yeah, the temptation for Elrond to use Vilya must have been massive. Boromir was a toddler when Buffy left Gondor and because Denethor hated her guts, they wouldn't have met often so he doesn't actually remember her but he sure has heard of her! Yes, the tables turning on Buffy and Aragorn would be interesting! Untriangled? Meldiren, watch that space… and never underestimate Arwen. Elrond may think he's safe but he's going to get a shock or two! And about Erestor.. Well if you think about Elrond has had to put up with Elladan and Elrohir for three thousand years. Why wouldn't he like a bit of pay back? Yes, her slayer heritage is a key point in why Buffy is so drawn to the ring. Dark calling to dark and all that jazz. And I wouldn't say the Ring was worse than the First, as we never saw the First really unleashed and corporeal as it would have been if it had succeeded in its plans, but the Ring is insidious in its own special way. And you're right, she can't avoid the bad guys forever. And yes, Gandalf is kinda like a Giles figure, with all the crankyness and mentoring. And the scene with his death will be pivotal. Thanks for your great review! Námarië!
Fairieangel - I'm always happy to welcome a newcomer. Thanks for the great review!
FallenStar2 - yes, Aragorn's denial is slowly subsiding. And about Eregion, thanks! Also, Buffy's prediction is supposed to give chills so I guess I'm doing something right. And the tension is building? How right you are. Bet none of you guess what I've got planned for the big climax though!
goldenshadows - who knows?
Haley - it's from the 'Mask of Zorro'. a little pop culture referencing never hurt anybody! And how long am I going to leave Buffy and Legolas hanging? Gee, that's a very good question. Pity I'm not answering! :)
harmoni9 - thanks! I'm always glad to see a convert.
Kit-Kat - there's a lot of lurkers around this site. And here's a hint, of course I'm planning to do something evil! And as to how the lovebirds come to the same wavelength, I can't say. I know what you mean about stories being hard to find. I have maybe 5 good ones that I'm waiting and haven't updated in months!
Lilly - it's so nice to know that I can have that effect on people! And finding a way to save Boromir might not be hard though.
Lizdarcy2 - three words. Gandalf. Must. Die. Explanations at a later date.
Lunawolf - not quite Moria next, but soon. And are you trying to find out the odds on Buffy or something? :)
Mari - if Buffy butted in, someone's bones would have been broken. Good guess on my little teaser!
MiShA - Aragorn is definitely way too stupid for his own good.
Ms8309 - are you ever going to actually say anything?
organized-chaos - but salmon is stinky! The freezing idea has potential though…
Phoenix83ad - hi! I really don't think that Buffy is ever invincible in the way some writers portray her so I totally agree with you there. In my opinion, Buffy's emotions are her strongest asset, and also her weakest. It's always where her smart enemies hit her, and the blows tend to send her reeling. So I thought the Ring would be more than adequate to torment her, as she is descended from a demon through the First Slayer. And as for the Gandalf thing; - well the pressure is starting to mount on everybody, especially the slayer and Frodo. What will happen in Moria? … Madness….
restive nature - :) thanks! I hope you get better soon!
ShawThang - yes, prophecies like chasing Buffy. And yes, Buffy and Legolas's reactions to Aragorn's new status should be interesting!
Sierra-Falls - the warning is meant to bug and confuse. And you're forgetting the most major evil, to some, that has plagued Buffy's steps since she was Called.
Sparky24 - wait and see…
Star - you're not supposed to know what to make of it. Okay, neither Buffy or Aragorn like talking about their time in Moria because it's scary, painful and so not nice to think about. And Buffy was talking about the time she previously caught the hobbits eavesdropping on her, they didn't overhear anything else unfortunately. Yet.
And major thanks to:
Brittany, clcountry, Imp17, Karen, LizaGirl, Night-Owl123, Tiamante Salazar Tameran, Wild320,
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT: ANY OLD PORT IN A STORM PART ONE
"If all else fails, there's always hope, faith and blind luck!"
- unknown
Caradhras, 3019 TA, January 11.
It was definitely a sombre group that trudged up the steep and snowy mountain, and Buffy found herself having a slight concentration problem due to a certain event.
While Frodo was walking ahead of her; having a sharp eye kept on him in case he stumbled in the deep drifts, it appeared that someone had decided to do the same for her.
She honestly wasn't sure whether to be touched or insulted that the ranger was poised to help her out of any snow drifts in which her lack of height might prove a problem, much like Gandalf had asked Boromir to do for Gimli and Pippin.
"So tell me," Buffy said, "Do you do this for all the girls? Or just the short ones?"
For a moment, Aragorn looked surprised at being so suddenly addressed but he recovered with a trademark smirk, "The twins told me of your ever so graceful tumble down that hill, Dagnir (slayer), so I decided that 'twould be wise to keep an eye on you."
"They told you, did they?" Buffy murmured dangerously, "I hope you know that I deny everything and if you ever repeat that again I will be obliged to rip out your tongue?"
Aragorn tried and failed to hide a snicker, "You have such a way with words, meldiren (my friend), but alas, I shall have to think your threat true and be silent!"
"You're such a comedian, Aragorn," Buffy growled, "See me laugh. You're just so hilarious. And in case it escapes your notice, I'm being sarcastic."
"When are you not, mellon?" (friend) Aragorn said, chuckling, "You deal out death threats every day without fail."
She stopped, placing her fisted hands on her hips and turned to give him a good scolding but before she could say anything, something slammed into her and she fell into and under a large snow drift.
Spluttering, she tried to paw her way up and was extremely grateful when she felt a strong hand wrap around hers and haul her out. "Are you well?" Aragorn asked, brushing the snow from her clothes and rubbing her hands within his to get some warmth in them.
Buffy blushed, "As well as can be expected from a walking snowman," she said with no little embarrassment, "But was that? I didn't realise they had boulders up this mountain."
Aragorn looked around and spotted the dark haired hobbit sitting up rather dazedly, "Frodo!" he exclaimed, going over to him and helping him up, placing his hands on his shoulders to steady him while the hobbit brushed snow off of himself.
But the trouble only began when Frodo started looking for the One Ring, which was no longer around his neck.
"It's missing!" Buffy cried, eyeing the huge field of snow in dismay, "Oh please do not tell me it's somewhere in that mess!"
A good twenty five feet above them on the mountain slope, Boromir found himself entranced by the glint of gold in the snow, and he reached down to pick up the chain as one who is mesmerised by what he sees.
To think that Middle Earth's future was bound up in such a small trinket! He wondered with no small amount of awe. To think that something so small could hold so much power. His eyes narrowed as he thought of how his homeland and his people could do with such power to protect their crumbling walls and defences but were denied at all turns. For once, could not the side of good profit from magic instead of the dark?
His fascination with the Ring did not go unnoticed.
From below, Aragorn quickly spotted the Ring in Boromir's grasp, and his hands slid from Frodo's shoulders with calm deliberation, going to the hilt of his sword. Beside him Buffy glanced worriedly between the two; it was one thing to force yourself to learn how to kill a servant of the Enemy but it was another thing entirely to contemplate harming one of your own comrades, and she did not know what to do.
"Boromir." Aragorn called cautiously, trying to jolt the man of Gondor into remembering his own pledge, his honour and the purpose of the quest.
But the man of Gondor seemed wholly taken in by the deceptively plain gold band.
"It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing… Such a little thing." Boromir said, reaching out to touch the Ring itself with his left hand.
"Boromir!" Aragorn called again, "Give the Ring to Frodo."
Boromir looked up and lucidity seemed to return to him, and he walked slowly towards the ranger and the Ring-bearer, "As you wish." he said, holding out the Ring, which Frodo quickly snatched from him, "I care not." he said, laughing and ruffling Frodo's hair despite the halfling's obvious discomfort.
Buffy's eyes never left him, but they also strayed towards the Ring one too many times for own comfort. She shuddered as its voice came to her, 'Beware what lurks beneath the ground….'
As he walked away, Aragorn's hand slowly slid off the hilt of his sword, watching the man as he rejoined the others.
A crisis had been averted.
For now.
-------
Approx. 2 - 3 hours later.
"Brr, I'm so very chilly." Buffy puffed out through the raging blizzard, as she numbly felt her extremities turn to ice. Apparently, slayers were only built to handle blizzards like normal people, which meant turning into giant ice cubes.
Aragorn turned to look at her at her words, trying to make her out through the snowstorm. What he could see was not looking good. Buffy's face was nearly swamped by her hood but he saw enough to see the blue tinge to her lips.
The hobbits, Buffy and Gimli were faring the worst out of the whole Fellowship. The hobbits had no shoes and had no height to help them fight their way through the blizzard, and Boromir was already supporting Merry and Pippin as they struggled to make their way up. Frodo, wracked by chills was scrambling alongside Gandalf and Sam, and even Legolas, who was lucky enough to have the ability to walk on top of the snow without sinking, had been drafted into helping his nemeses.
Gimli was hampered by his heavy armour, dragging him down with every step, and Legolas was the only one able to pull him out under these conditions, being in no danger of being dragged down with the Dwarf.
As for Buffy, she was faring only as well as the halflings, Aragorn noticed worriedly. Hindered by her own height and slight form, she was increasingly forced to scrabble through or over the gathering snow, exposing her unprotected hands to the harsh chill.
She was chattering visibly, and even knowing her independent streak, he knew he could not stand by and not help her. She would just have to get used to accepting help where it was needed.
Going to her, he looped an arm around her waist, helping her over another drift even as she turned to glare at him, "Do not give me that look Buffy," he reprimanded her, "You need help. It is cold out. I cannot just let you freeze."
"Yeah, this is a little thing we like to call winter, here." Buffy said sarcastically, but found herself leaning into his warm hold anyway. "You do realise this changes nothing, right?" she said.
Aragorn allowed himself a small smile of victory, "Of course Dagnir, you need no help at all," he said placidly, causing her eyes to narrow once more.
About half an hour of mind-numbing cold later, Legolas ran down to check on them, ""Okay, that is so cheating." Buffy snapped, wishing she could do the 'walk on snow' thingy.
Legolas was not exactly the most popular member of the fellowship right now, as everyone except Gandalf, had by now, joined in on the 'let's-glare-at-the-non-frozen-Elf' game.'
"Boromir has won the argument against Gandalf for us to seek shelter." Legolas said, keeping pace with them with an effortless ease that Buffy envied, "He says that the hobbits, and … others can go no further like this. You are to come up, all of us have to decide on what to you."
"Hey, us short people always get the short end of the stick! So lay off it mister!" Buffy said, not missing the significant look in her direction. "But it's nice to see that someone talked some sense into Gandalf before we all freeze out here!"
"But what shelter is he going to seek on this mountain?" Aragorn asked, "I have seen nothing that would keep us even halfway warm."
Legolas's expression was grim with worry; as an Elf he was unaffected by the cold and was in no danger of possibly dying from it, but all the others in the Fellowship were susceptible to the dangers of this deadly cold, and he knew that he could not help them to bear this burden in any way.
Struggling through the white banks, the trio finally reached the rest of the group, to find that Gandalf and Boromir were once more arguing over the next course of action.
"And what good will avail us of going on?" Boromir was saying, "'Tis no good to save time if we are dead ere we leave!"
Buffy butted in before the wizard could get chance to respond, "Listen, I'm cold, I'm cranky and I'm so not up to dealing with in-fighting right now. Boromir here has a point; most of us here are either only human or mortal. Agree with the man, Gandalf before I help him stuff your little pointed hat up yo---.."
Buffy's words were quickly muffled by Aragorn, who slapped a hand over her mouth, "I think we all agree with Boromir, Mithrandir. We cannot go on."
"Fine," The wizard said at last, thoroughly defeated, "Either stop where we are, or go back. It is no good going on. Only a little higher, if I remember rightly, this path leaves the cliff and runs into a wide shallow trough at the bottom of a long, hard slope. We should have no shelter there from snow, or stones - or anything else."
"And it is no good going back while the storm holds," Aragorn pointed out, "We have passed no place on the way up that offered more shelter than this cliff-wall we are under now."
"Shelter!" Sam muttered sourly, frozen to the bone, "If this is shelter, then one wall and no roof make a house!"
Buffy had to agree and could not help but grumble at the hotly contested meaning of the word 'shelter'. "But while you crazy wizards may actually like the drowned rat look I prefer to remain dry…" she muttered under her breath with a dark look in Gandalf's direction, only silencing herself when Legolas looked at her pointedly.
And so the Fellowship struggled on as the blizzard seemed to get harsher and the wind howled louder and louder until they were in danger of being blown away.
As the Fellowship settled down into their 'shelter' with their teeth chattering, and extremities going numb even as most agreed with Sam's caustic assessment of Gandalf's choice.
But Legolas pulled Aragorn aside ere they reached it, and tried to talk some sense into him, tried to remind him of his loyalties to Arwen, and trying to protect Buffy from being led on by Aragorn's actions, "I am glad that you are watching out for Buffy," the Elven Prince said quietly, "But I feel that I should remind you that she is not helpless and it is not your job to keep her safe."
Aragorn did not have any reply to that.
-------
As the day wore on, the blizzard worsened until it had grown to epic proportions. The snow piled up around them faster than they could clear it, and even to the less experienced members of the Fellowship it was obvious that unless something changed soon, they were in real danger of being buried alive.
The company were huddled together, with their backs against the cold and uncomfortable stone wall. The Hobbits were near buried and had to be rescued every ten minutes or so and Buffy, sick of having to be continuously hauled up by Aragorn, had plonked herself down in Legolas's lap, as he was the only one not sinking into the mound of snow.
Aragorn could only watch her with his friend with barely hidden envy, and he felt a resurgence of old suspicions as he watched the easy camaraderie they shared. He still did not know all the reasons behind Legolas's anger at him, though he had a fair idea, but he did not yet feel up to explaining the circumstances surrounding his dissolved betrothal when he had yet to fully sort out his own feelings. And so it was that there was also a figurative icy atmosphere between them that he did not know how to remedy without telling all.
His own teeth chattering, Boromir again decided to go head to head with Gandalf, standing as champion for the hobbits. "This will be the death of the halflings, Gandalf," he said firmly, trying to talk some sense into the wizard, "It is useless to sit here until the snow goes over our heads. We must do something to save ourselves."
"Totally agreeing with Boromir here," Buffy said, shivering.
In response, Gandalf only passed around a flask of miruvor, allowing them one precious sip each and temporarily warming them. But it was not enough.
"What do you say to fire?" asked Boromir suddenly, not backing down for a moment and not willing to lay his life in the hands of what he thought was a dangerously crazy wizard, "The choice seems now between fire and death, Gandalf. Doubtless we shall be hidden from all unfriendly eyes when the snow has covered us, but that will not help us if we are dead from it."
"You may make a fire, if you can," answered Gandalf, "If there are any watchers that can endure this storm, then they can see us, fire or no."
At that, Buffy just glared, "Light a fire in a blizzard? Sounds likely." she muttered but still, everyone had a go.
In succession, Boromir, Legolas and Gimli all tried to light a fire and all failed. The spark would not even catch, let alone hold out against the snow and wind.
"Gandalf! Come on!" Buffy gave out at last, "Let's make it very simple. No fire - no Fellowship. We'll only be little ice cubes who died from hypothermia! Now, I'm asking you very nicely to light the damn fire! Make with the mojo thing already!"
Gandalf glared at her tone, but as she was enthusiastically backed up by the entire fellowship, he had to give in.
Picking up a faggot of wood from Boromir's stockpile, he held it aloft for a moment, and then spoke his spell, "Naur an edraith ammen!" he cried, and then he banged on it with his staff. Almost immediately, a great gush of green and blue flame erupted from it, and at last the wet faggots of wood flared and sputtered into life.
At once, the fellowship crowded in around the blazing fire, glad for the warmth to thaw their frozen bones.
"If there are any to see, then I at least am revealed to him," Gandalf said heavily, "I have written 'Gandalf is here' in signs that all can read from Rivendell to the mouths of Anduin. There can be no mistaking it."
"Gandalf," Buffy said, "They already know we've left Rivendell for the south. Now, as we can't fly, that leaves a limited number of options to get there, and if they're smart - which they are - they'd have everywhere watched. Chances are they already know where we are, what we carry and our general direction. We couldn't expect to hide from them forever. They know we're coming."
No one could argue with that.
----------
When the blizzard eased some, and all the wood had been burned to fuel the fire, the fellowship were forced to go on.
But even as they struggled to make it up the mountain, the blizzard picked up again; as if the very mountain itself did not want them there, and they were hard pressed to keep going.
Legolas had taken the foremost position as he was best able to warn the others of the dangers that were in front of them. Aragorn and Boromir had been forced to take two hobbits a piece, as they could not manage against the wind and the heavily falling snow anymore.
Buffy struggled on in their wake, and when she first heard the voice upon the air, she tried to speed up to get to Gandalf, but Legolas had also noticed it and spoke up first, "There is a fell voice on the air!" he cried. Gandalf and Buffy's heads snapped up at his warning, knowing that if they all could feel it, it was deadly serious.
Gandalf paused for a moment even as Buffy puffed to a halt behind him; listening to the air for a moment ere his eyes widened, "It is Saruman!" he cried, brandishing his staff, and that shout was scarcely warning enough for the fellowship to dodge the multitude of boulders that suddenly fell atop of them.
Aragorn tried to shield Frodo and Sam from the falling rocks, "He is trying to bring down the mountain! Gandalf, we must turn back!" he yelled, his voice nearly being carried away by the gale force winds.
But Gandalf refused to give up and turn around, and stood his ground, "No!" he roared and stepped forward, crying out in the Elvish tongue to try to reverse Saruman's sorcery, "Losto Caradhras, sedho, hodo, nuitho i 'ruith!" (Sleep Caradhras, be still, lie still, hold your wrath.)
Buffy clung to the rocks of the mountain ledge to avoid the worst of the wind, feeling the power struggle between the two Istari. A struggle neither could truly win as the mountain had a will of its won and it did not like the intruders that were causing it to fall apart. They would get no help from Caradhras. They had to turn back. The mountain would not tolerate this for much longer. "Gandalf!" she cried desperately, "We must turn back! The mountain is going to bury us if we stay here much longer!"
Gandalf did not acknowledge her and his spell words did nothing but anger the mountain further, and a bolt of lightning hit the mountain, bringing down an avalanche of snow and rocks.
Gandalf, perched on the edge of the cliff, was only barely hauled to safety by Legolas before the avalanche crashed down around them with a deafening roar.
Buffy felt the snow impact and god knows how much of it piled up on top of her before she felt the vibrations of rock hitting rock stop. Trapped in a maze of dizzying whiteness, she couldn't tell which way was up and could only trust in her instincts as she started to claw her way up to the surface, praying that she was not only digging herself into her own cold grave.
Legolas was the first to emerge from the new blanket of snow, having been able to dodge the heaviest of the fall and he brought Gandalf up with him, having been clutching at the wizard as the avalanche tumbled down around them.
Boromir and Aragorn popped up next, nearly choking on snow and each hauling two bedraggled and terrified halflings with them. And then Gimli emerged, grumbling at the wear his poor armour was going through with snow stuck in every crevice.
But Aragorn was the first to notice that Buffy had yet to surface. His heart beginning to race faster in panic, he shouted out for her, "Buffy! Where are you?" he cried, "Buffy!"
By now, the others had noticed that she had yet to come up and joined in the search but for some reason, Aragorn was consistently drawn back to one particular spot. He knew not how he knew, but there was something telling him that she was there, something urging him onwards and so he scrabbled around in the snow until he came into contact with another, smaller cold hand.
Buffy could not help but sigh in relief as she felt a hand wrap around hers, helping her up and reassuring her that she had chosen the right way. Half climbing and being half dragged, she was hauled up and nearly collapsed into Aragorn's arms from sheer relief.
As he reassured himself that she was safe, Aragorn looked at her pale face and his heart thudded with fear that anything could have happened to her. Especially before he got any chance to express his feelings towards her, feelings that were growing and deepening with every passing day.
"We must get off the mountain!" Boromir called, striving to be heard over the wind, " We must make for the Gap of Rohan! Or take the west road to my city!"
Aragorn shook his head in disagreement, "The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard!" he replied. "We cannot go that way!"
Gimli had his own protests to add, "We cannot pass over the mountain. Let us go under it! Let us go through the Mines of Moria! My cousin, Balin, shall give us a fine welcome!"
"I wouldn't touch Moria with a ten foot pole!" Buffy rejoined, her throat raw and sore from inhaling way too much snow than any once Californian girl should.
Gandalf seemed undecided but Aragorn spotted the cunning light in his eyes and knew that the crafty wizard was looking for a way to get his own choice passed by the fellowship. "Let the Ring-bearer decide... Frodo?"
Frodo looked startled at having to make such a choice and seemed to shy away from all the eyes looking at him, "We will go through the mines." he said at last.
"So be it." Gandalf decreed and Aragorn tried to bore holes in the Istar with his glare.
At Aragorn's blatant disapproval, the wizard looked to Buffy for help, "You're a wizard. Get yourself out of it." she told him, "I'm agreeing with the ranger. Moria doesn't bring anything but nightmares and death."
"Is that not we were sent out to face?" Gandalf reminded her, and she couldn't dispute that logic.
Death was apparently going to come for them at every turn.
And there was nothing they could do to stop it.
-------
A/N: So? Feedback always welcome and wanted! Please READ and REVIEW!!!!
Next chapter: The fellowship meet more trouble…. Their path is decided…and they get their first encounter with the weapons Sauron has at his disposal….
Elvish:Dagnir - slayer
Meldiren - my friend
Mellon - friend
Mithrandir - Grey Pilgrim
Losto Caradhras, sedho, hodo, nuitho i 'ruith! - Sleep Caradhras, be still, lie still, hold your wrath.
Istar - wizard
------------------
Istari - the Maiar who were sent from Aman in the Third Age to resist Sauron. Sindarin: Ithryn.
Miruvor - the cordial of the Eldar.
('·.¸('·.¸ ¸.·'´) ¸.·'´)
«´¨ Asha D ¨»
(¸.·'´(¸.·'´ '·.¸)' ·.¸)
¸.·´
( ·.¸
·.¸ )
¸.·)´
(.·´
.
.
