FIRST KNIGHT BY ASHA DREAMWEAVER

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.

Summary: BtVS/LotR. Buffy is 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 has 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, which 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? Moreover, will Boromir resist the lure of the ring?

Author's notes: okay, I seem to have confused a good deal of you. 'First Knight' will not end until after the Return of the King book. But as I have finally have all of my FK chapters plotted out and I know how I'm ending it, I'm plotting up the sequel so that there won't be a long gap between where this story ends and the sequel starts being posted. 'FA 1' meant Fourth Age, year one. Sorry I thought that was generally known. And okay, I realise that without knowing any of my ideas for the sequel, you're flying blind here, but if I give you my summary of it, then you'll know how FK ends, now wouldn't you?

Review responses:

Alexceasar - Gollum was watching them. And Boromir's fall is in this chapter.

Anna - thanks! And I figured I owed you guys a small respite before I dive into the messy bits. Ah, the Boromir question. Everyone's asking that. Some of it is answered in this chapter! The sequel is post RotK. And yes, the dream you mentioned was significant. In that, it showed Buffy's future.

Becky - I honestly do not know.

Draco's Slytherin Vampiress - it was Gollum!

Dreamer Child - ah, you will get the cryptic references in this chapter. It's just Galadriel and Elrond speak for 'not sure', and so 'better not say anything useful 'til I'm sure'. And I realise that Buffy's living in the land of denial, but you know, pressure, stress and imminent death tend to, how do I put this, make you let go of silly little denial things. (Hint, hint)

Emma - it came in in first place!

FallenStar2 - thanks! And Buffy does not turn against Aragorn. In this fic. The Narya issue is given a big hint this chapter, and pretty much resolves it, so I'll let you read it on your own. Of course, Arwen knows how stubborn they are, I think she just may have underestimated their hard heads though.

Goldenshadows - thanks! And the sequel is post RotK. Also, no Scoobies will be dropping into ME. But I am planning more for the twins.

Haley - I did imply it didn't I? And you get to see how it starts to work out in this chapter! And I think that I sent Buffy along with Frodo and Sam, she would end up taking over the show.

Kit-Kat - I will be focusing in on parts of various storylines, except very little for Frodo and Sam, as I can't change their story plausibly.

Locathah - I might…'cascade effect' is a good way of putting it.

Malfeus - thanks! You are so sweet!

Mari - just loves eating things. And actually, if you think about, in the sequel I get to torment so many more characters as well, like Elves, and the steward and the entire Gondorian royal guards and Thranduil and the twins and wow, a lot of people. Yes, the sequel will be after RotK. And yes, I have read the Silmarillion. But when did I say that Buffy would get an animal to help her because I so do not remember that. Refresh my memory, please. And there's about twenty more chapters left in FK.

Meowsilbub - yes, she's about 70, but hey the Númenóreans considered that young! And I didn't say that Buffy is less violent, - she's never really been overly violent considering her job - but less volatile.

Phoenix83ad - thank you! And Aragorn really did not prove himself the sharpest man in the romance department when it came to the whole him/Arwen/Buffy triangle. The Frodo and Sam story is pretty much a given. You really cannot allow another character into that mess without messing with their triumph. I mean, if I sent Buffy that way, she would kill Gollum and lead them into Mordor herself. Which would be kinda a problem from the not attracting attention POV. And for the sequel, there will be no return to Sunnydale. Ever.

PrecariousPersonata - thanks! And you are so right about the straightforward answer! With the first part of the breaking of the fellowship in this chapter, I am hardly going to tell you now! 'A Light to You' is discontinued. I felt that it just did not measure up and that Isis had been a big mistake to introduce. But someone has expressed interest in continuing it and I'm waiting to see if they will follow through. If they do, I will let readers know in my authors notes of this story on where to find it.

Scruffybunny - okay, see author's note for the sequel info. I know, Buffy has had a long wait. And she gave Narya to Galadriel.

ShawThang - thanks and welcome back mellon! Thank you for all your comments and I think everybody agrees that the B/A thing is frustrating in the extreme! And the Elves did call Aragorn Estel, but that was when he was young. He's approaching his destiny to be king now, so I think it's going to be mostly 'Elessar' from those who want him to take the throne. And yeah, his proposal distinctly reminded me of Mr Darcy in 'Pride and Prejudice'. And glad to know you like the L/A pairing! :) And while the coma theory is officially out - way too soap opera-ish - I have things up my sleeve…

Shymk - thanks for the tip!

And major thanks to:

Aleviel, Black Phoenyx, darknesssoonfollows, egastin77, General Mac, GoldenRat, Light Spinner, Lindiel Eryn, Lunawolf, magnetic-starfish, Night-Owl123, Saint Maverick, Sukera, Tara6, The Lady Reaper of the Shadows, Tsuki no Yasha, Whistler84, Wild320,

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN: KEEPING FAITH

Caras Galadhon, Lothlórien, 3019 TA, February 17.

"Welcome back Olórin." the Lady of the Wood greeted him as he clambered off the back of Gwaihir, Lord of the Eagles, having at last reached his destination.

The Maiar smoothed his white robes and turned to face her, "Galadriel," he said, looking around in some wonder, "Ah, yes, I remember this…"

"The West has returned you to us," the Lady said, stepping close to him, her eyes curious but gentle.

"My duties are not yet complete," he replied. "I must finish them ere the West can ever be more than memory to me."

"You are no longer of the Grey." she stated with certainty, eyeing his robes with some satisfaction. She had always felt him to be the best of the Istari sent east.

He looked at her and a renewed fire was in his eyes, "No, I am of the White." he said, "Saruman has been cast out of the Heren Istarion. I am Gandalf the Grey no longer."

"Do you wish for refreshment or rest?" she asked, knowing that any explanations would be long ones, but he waved her off.

"Nay, not yet. And I think you have much to tell me, daughter of Finarfin."

She smiled softly, and reached into a pocket in her dress, pulling out a gold band with a single red gem set in it. "This I was bidden to give to you." she said, and tried to give him Narya. "She would not keep it and so I must return it."

Gandalf looked at it for a moment, then sighed, his hand closing around the band, "This ring is mine no longer, Galadriel of the Golden Wood," he said softly, "It is another's now, and I shall return it to them when our paths cross again."

"So it is true," Galadriel said quietly, "I had suspected but I could not be sure."

The wizard laughed, "Ah lady, who could have expected this?" he said with good humour, "For Buffy has done a deed that the Elven wise could not since the Rings' creation. She has sundered them from the One."

Galadriel whitened and staggered back, bracing herself against the trunk of a mallorn, "What?" she gasped.

Gandalf smiled, "Buffy died with Narya. Granted, she was not meant to die. The Valar did not see that coming but they were able to take advantage of a tragedy and the event that came with it. Narya defended Buffy and tied itself with her. When Varda urged her fellows to give the slayer back her life, they found it impossible to sunder Narya's tie to Buffy and so they had to let it remain."

Galadriel just stared at him, the ever knowing Mistress of the Mirror shocked beyond belief, "How?"

Gandalf leaned on his smooth white staff, "It seems that young Buffy is quite the determined little thing. With Narya on her finger, she could not die when she refused to die. She fell at last, but her soul did not pass beyond the circles of the world. Too many bonds tied her to Middle Earth. The unforeseen connection with Aragorn, her tie to Narya, and her own sheer stubbornness. When Buffy's life was restored to her, the tie of Narya to the One Ring was broken. And with Narya, the ties of Vilya and Nenya were broken too. The Three are now their own masters. Sauron cannot touch them any longer, not unless he manages to gain one of them into his grasp. But the Three can no longer be affected by the One from afar. Even if the worst came to pass, and the One was returned to its master, the Three could not be touched."

Galadriel's face was shocked and pale and many minutes passed ere she could speak, "She has freed us all…" she whispered.

"Yes," Gandalf said with a fondly amused smile, "She has just provided three more weapons against Sauron. You and Elrond can protect your realms without fear."

Sharp blue eyes landed on him, "And what of her fate? I saw the White Tree, Olórin…"

"Ah yes," the wizard said, a twinkle in his eye, "I daresay that will come as a shock to her. But come, that tale is for another day. Tell me, how do the fellowship fare?"

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Sarn Gebir, 3019 TA, February 23. - Night.

Over a week after they left Lothlórien, the Fellowship reached the rapids of Sarn Gebir, and camped there.

They day of their choice was drawing nearer and nearer and the fellowship was filled with tension. Too many of them had spotted a pair of eyes that gleamed menacingly in the dark, dogging their steps.

They were allowed no fire, and so the chill seeped into their bones even as they pulled their cloaks tighter around them. But 'twas not only the cold in their bones that chilled them but the cold in their hearts at the thought of where they would have to go.

Mordor. The Black Land.

They all had the choice; save for brave Frodo. To follow the hobbit into Mordor or to abandon the hobbit and do what exactly? It was the type of choice that turned the food they ate into ash in their stomachs.

But even more oppressive was the silence that dominated. Once they had left Lothlórien, they had realised that the days of levity and peace were over, and that they were now heading into the biggest war of the age.

"Elbereth Gilthoniel!" sighed Legolas, breaking the silence at last as he looked up. But as he did so, Buffy stiffened where she sat, and two blonde heads searched the sky.

And then it came.

A dark shape, almost looking like a cloud for a moment, moving way too swiftly to be any natural thing, came out of the dark in the south and sped towards the fellowship. Buffy felt a shiver down her spine and leapt to her feet, as it came closer, blocking out all the light from the moon.

By now, the rest of the fellowship had noticed that something was wrong, and they soon descried the reason why.

A great winged monster, blending into the black of the night, flew through the skies and from across the riverbank, the foul cries of orc-voices rose up in greeting. Even as Legolas nocked his bow, Frodo grabbed his shoulder with a startled gasp as a sudden chill burned through his old wound.

Even as Buffy hissed, "Nazgûl!" under her breath, Legolas's bow sang and the creature swerved to try to avoid it. It failed and as the Elven arrow impacted, there came a harsh, croaking scream as it plummeted to the ground of the eastern shore, mixed in with the fell shriek of the Black Rider upon its back.

From the opposite bank, as the fellowship watched, there was a sudden roar of orc-voices, cursing and shouting and then came a sudden silence. Nothing more came from the eastern bank that night.

There was silence amongst the fellowship for a long while as they strained to hear anything else, but no other sounds reached their ears. At last, they felt it safe to talk again, and finish their meal, if any had appetites left after that fell scream.

"Praised be the bow of Galadriel, and the hand and eye of Legolas!" said Gimli, munching a wafer of Lembas, "That was a mighty shot in the dark, my friend!"

"But who can say what it hit?" said Legolas, his fair face grim. He was no stranger to the Nazgûl, a captain of the Mirkwood forces as he was, and he knew well enough to recognise one of the Nine when he saw them. But out of concern for the hobbits, he said nothing.

"I cannot," Gimli replied, and shuddered as he thought on it, "But I am glad that the shadow came no nearer. I liked it not at all. Too much it reminded me of the shadow in Moria - the shadow of the Balrog." he ended in a whisper.

"It was not a Balrog," said Frodo, still shivering and his shoulder still pained him, "It was something colder. I think it was -" He trailed off as if he did not want to say the words, and so Buffy, with little concern for sheltering the hobbits at this late stage, spoke up.

"It was one of the Nazgûl," Buffy said with no little disgust, "On another monster of some kind. Obviously new from Mordor, also known as Monsters'r'us."

Aragorn, sitting beside her, took her hand in his and squeezed it for a moment before letting go. She was grateful for the friendly comfort. She hated the Ringwraiths.

The ranger sighed, "I had hoped that we had gone unmarked," he said, "We shall have to be extra vigilant from now on. Danger looms in front of us and behind us it seems. Let us hope that we shall not encounter the Nazgûl and their fell beasts any more."

None could disagree with that sentiment.

----------

Parth Galen, 3019 TA, February 25.

Two days later, they had passed through the Argonath and had reached the relative safety of Parth Galen. They knew full well that the eastern bank was filled with orcs and they had little doubt that they hunted the company.

But they had no choice but to stop on the western shore and make camp there, for they could go no further without choosing their path.

Aragorn had reluctantly decided that his oath to Frodo took precedence, and that he would follow him to whatever end, "We could cross the lake at nightfall, hide the boats, and continue on foot. We approach Mordor from the north."

Gimli, puffing away on his pipe, just stared at him in derision, "Oh, yes? Just a simple matter of finding our way through Emyn Muil? An impassable labyrinth of razor sharp rocks? And after that, it gets even better! Festering, stinking marshlands, as far as the eye can see!"

Aragorn glared at him, "That is our road. I suggest you take some rest and recover your strength, Master Dwarf."

That caused the Dwarf to start sputtering and choking on his own smoke, "Recover my... phfwahh... Recover strength... Pay no heed to that, young Hobbit." he said to Pippin, "Aragorn knows nothing of the strength of a Dwarf!"

Buffy decided to intervene before there was war, "We'll take a vote after we're all rested some. I don't want to be cleaning up ranger and Dwarven parts if you keep fighting!"

Then she crossed over to Merry and Pippin and laying a hand on their shoulders, smiled menacingly, "By the way, master hobbits, if you even think of gossiping about me again, I will do may best to throw all your longbottom leaf in the river, and I will throw you two in after it! Got it?"

The two hobbits nodded, not liking the look on the slayer's face. "Good. Glad to know that that's sorted out. Never think that I won't find out, little hobbits, I always do."

-------------

But while Buffy dealt with the wayward hobbits, Legolas hauled Aragorn aside to where they could not be overheard by the fellowship. "Aragorn, we should leave now. It is not safe here."

Aragorn shook his head, "No. Orcs still patrol the eastern shore. We must wait for the cover of darkness ere we can depart."

Silver-blue eyes bored into grey, "It is not the eastern shore that worries me. A shadow and a threat have been growing in my mind. Something draws near. I can feel it, Aragorn. Danger comes. If we stay here, nothing good can come of it."

The ranger sighed, "We have no choice, mellon, and we cannot leave without knowing where we are going. The fellowship must decide."

Legolas grasped his arm, "Then urge them to hurry. Before there is no fellowship left at all."

-------------

While the others ate, Buffy stole away to the river, shielded from the fellowship's view by the trees. In her hand, she held the chain that Galadriel had given to her. She had to know if it worked.

Cautiously lowering the blue gem into the water, she watched and waited.

After a few moments, the clear surface of the water stilled, the current somehow stopped, and images began to flash along the surface.

With wide eyes, Buffy watched Boromir die, and knew that Legolas was right, danger was coming. And too soon for them to stop it. Jerking back from the water, she stared at the innocent blue gem in her grasp, and then looped it around her neck. No matter how unpalatable the vision, she would not do without them, not when she had a chance to change things.

With a frozen countenance, she sought out Gimli.

Hauling him aside, deep into the woods, though near enough to the fellowship to be able to hear them if they called, and then she spilled the whole tale to the Dwarf, and asked for his help to stop Boromir from committing the worst mistake of his life.

He was eager to help, "Of course, I will help you lass," he said gruffly, "We cannot let that man do something stupid! Trust a Dwarf to set things right!"

"We need to keep an eye on him. Both of us," Buffy said, "We'll have a little chat with him as well, but we need to watch him. When we see him about to do something stupid, we have to stop him! I'm not losing any of the fellowship on my watch!"

"Right you are, lassie," Gimli answered, "In fact, let's talk with him now. Because if he goes for the Ring, he will feel the bite of Dwarven steel!"

--------------

It was a bemused man of Gondor that was tackled by a Dwarf and a slayer in concert.

"I hear your words, Dagnir," Boromir replied to her insistent pleas, "But how can I promise anything when I know not if I can keep my word?"

"I'm only asking you to try," Buffy said softly, "I saw your death once Boromir, I don't want to see it in real life. Ask yourself this, how can you help your city if you are dead?"

"Aye, lad," Gimli added, "We have all felt its pull, don't you be the one to fall now."

Boromir looked between the determined faces of the Dwarves and the slayer, "If the worst does come to pass," he said quietly, "Then it shall not be when I am in my right mind. For I reject the ring of Sauron, despites its sweet promises."

"I guess that's all I can ask, Boromir," Buffy said, eyes weary with the weight of more years than she had dreamed of living. She had seen too many fall for pride in her lifetime. "But be careful!"

"Yes, follow her advice, I would not want to nock my axe breaking your thick head!" Gimli said in jest, unwittingly diffusing the tension between the small group.

-----------

From across the camp, Aragorn glowered across at Buffy and Boromir, sharpening his blade with more force than necessary as he seethed within.

He had borne witness to the phenomenon in Lothlórien, had seen Buffy and the man of Gondor grow closer, but as he watched them now, he felt the insidious creep of jealousy within his heart.

He and Buffy had returned to some semblance of their former friendship since Aragorn had momentarily abandoned his pursuit of her, but there was still an ever present tension and uneasiness whenever they were together and it smote his heart to see her do her best to avoid being alone with him.

And to see her laugh so freely with Boromir was cutting; she seemed to have time for everyone in the fellowship save himself and it wore on him.

He lived in constant fear that despite her incredible skills, that something would harm her and he would not be there to stop it. He knew that he could not protect her, and even more, that she would not let him, and it rankled at him but he accepted it. But at least before the many incidents in Lórien, she had trusted him to watch her back as she now did not. She did not want to be that close to him anymore.

Legolas sat down beside him and looked at him sympathetically, "Do not despair, Aragorn." he said softly, so that no one else could overhear, not even the always over-curious and irrepressible hobbits, "She feels nothing for Boromir save friendship, her heart is yours whether she admits it or no."

"And yet I cannot help but feel like showing him the sharp side of my sword," Aragorn growled.

The Elf only chuckled, "Ah, the hardships of courting, mellon," Legolas said, "But I would refrain from showing Boromir your ire when he does not even know he is causing it. That lady of yours is not one who I would wish to anger at this stage. Her shouts might give us away to the orcs," he paused for a moment, "Or scare them away perhaps, but it would not be a spectacle that I would care to be too close to."

Aragorn sighed, and lifted his black gaze from Boromir's back, "Very well," he said with no small smidgeon of ill-temper, "I shall leave him be."

Legolas just looked at him, "And no small surprises worthy of Elladan and Elrohir, or me."

Aragorn's glare was firmly focused on his friend now, "Is there any other pleasure you would care to deprive me of?" he said acidly, "Besides the many of which you have just robbed me?"

Legolas slapped him on the back with a knowing grin, "Nay, I shall leave that to your brothers when they find out what a disaster you have made of things with Buffy. I think they shall be heartily amused."

Aragorn just looked at his retreating back in horror, and then exclaimed "Legolas!"

----------

That night, whilst on watch, Aragorn drew out the letter that Galadriel had passed to him, and looked at it curiously.

Breaking the seal, he unfolded the parchment, still making sure to keep his awareness and senses trained on the fellowship's camp.

Though he knew not of any reason in particular for the Lady of the Wood to hand him a letter when he had just passed the better part of a month in her realm, he knew that it had to be of some significance for her to do so.

What secret could she not tell him in person, in her well guarded land? Curious and wary, he started to read.

Elessar,

This task falls to me because Buffy has no kin, save those of her heart, and though she is valiant, I know that you are well aware of her stubbornness. Because she would never tell you this herself, and she has no blood kin to speak for her, I feel that I must be the one to tell you, no matter the consequences. In speaking to you of this matter, I break a confidence, but by rights, Buffy should have told you herself, many years of Men ago. But she has not. And now I must do so for her.

Long has Buffy kept a secret from you, denying it herself and refusing to tell you anything about it even though you are as strongly involved as she is. She has kept herself bound to this needless secrecy since before your troth with Arwen. It was not that which stayed her hand, but fear.

Buffy is one of the bravest souls that I know, but that is on the battlefield. In battles of the heart, she is terrified and she runs. Always, she runs. As she did from you. She is a Dagnir, but she is also a woman. And too often does she bury the woman beneath her duties as a warrior. In this way has her heart been guarded since her coming to Middle Earth.

When Denethor poisoned you, Elessar, years ago in Minas Tirith, death was ready to claim you. Your life was spared only by Buffy's intervention. And she had to put forth all her skill and power to bring you back from the brink. In doing so, there were consequences that she did not foresee.

She went further than she knew she could to save you, and her fëa gave yours the strength to live. But in doing so, your fëar joined and a bond was formed between you. This fed you strength from Buffy, enough to keep you alive and enough to heal you faster than you should. This bond was unknown to Buffy until I told her what it was, and she should have told you immediately. But she did not; she would not fetter you so. And nor would she admit that you were the owner of her heart.

Aragorn, the bond forged between you is akin to that between a man and a wife amongst the Edhil. I know not to this day if it will hold in the eyes of the Valar, when it was done unknowingly by both parties, but for all intents and purposes, she bonded you her husband and you bonded her your wife. In times of need, you have felt this bond. Always, when one of you is in dire straits, the other has come to them. 'Twas how she found you in the Mines of Moria when you first entered them.

What you decide to do with this information is up to you, Aragorn. But I urge you to be careful. Do not chase her away. For just as you are destined to be King of Men, she is bonded to you, and is Queen whether she wills it or no, unless you somehow manage to dissolve the bond binding you to each other. She has her destiny, as you have yours.

Act wisely, Elessar.

Namárië,

Galadriel Finarfiniel.

Wide grey eyes stared at the parchment in disbelief, and then they turned to level a betrayed stare at the blonde-haired woman wrapped up in her bedroll beside Sam.

How could she have done this to him? To them? To not even tell him! What would have happened if he had married Arwen? Would she have allowed him to enter into wedlock already bound to another? And she had the audacity to deny any feelings between them?

His eyes burned with unrestrained fire as he thought on what could have been. So many years wasted… so many lies told.

She could run, he decided, but he would be waiting when she slowed. When he acted, she would feel it long before she ever saw it coming…

---------------

Parth Galen, 3019 TA, February 26.

That afternoon, the solemn fellowship gathered together to make their choice as to the direction of their venture. But though eight of them were present, two were not and the absence of the Ringbearer could not go unnoticed for long.

Happily chewing on an apple, as if they were not about to decide whether to dare enter the festering land of Mordor, Merry looked around curiously. "Where's Frodo?" he asked, drawing everyone else's attention to the missing hobbit.

Aragorn quickly scanned the camp in alarm, his anxiety growing as he noticed another who was missing, "Where is Boromir?" he asked.

Sam answered him, "He said that he was getting firewood so I could cook us some supper, Strider."

Across the camp, Gimli and Buffy's eyes met in mingled alarm and worry.

The slayer leaped up from her perch, "Find them!" she cried as she and the Dwarf tore off in one direction, leaving the rest of the fellowship to scatter as they pleased in search of their missing companions.

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Boromir did not know what had come over him, only that he had to follow the insistent tugging in his mind ere it rent it in two. As he moved through the wood, he absent-mindedly picked up faggots of firewood but his thoughts were clouded and his purpose unknown.

But then Frodo had wandered across his path and it was like another person moved in his body, another's voice who spoke; he felt like he was watching his body from afar, no longer connected to it at all, save being allowed to watch on in growing horror.

"None of us should wander alone." his voice said, words that had not crossed his mind but something else's, "You least of all. So much depends on you. Frodo? I know why you seek solitude. You suffer. I see it day by day. Are you sure you do not suffer needlessly? There are other ways, Frodo. Other paths that we might take."

Boromir could see where this was going and he knew that Buffy's warning was coming to pass, and for all his fighting, it seemed that he could not stop what was about to occur. The Ring had laid hold of him and it was not letting go.

Frodo looked at him askance and with no little wariness and the man wanted to scream at him to run, but his voice was not his own. The Ring spoke through him now, and he had never known such shame as he had for being so easily caught.

"I know what you would say, and it would seem like wisdom, but for the warning in my heart." Frodo said cautiously, trying to subtly back away from the man.

But what was about to come could not be stopped by either of them.

"Warning? Against what?" Frodo's eyes widened as the warrior began to advance on him, and the hobbit realised that if this came down to a fight, he could not win.

"We are all afraid, Frodo, but to let that fear drive us to destroy what hope we have! Do you not see? It is madness… To destroy the very thing that is our only hope of winning!"

Frodo shook his head in growing fear, "There is no other way." he replied firmly.

The man glared angrily, "I ask only for the strength to defend my people!" he cried, hurling the firewood in his arms to the ground, "If you would but lend me the Ring…"

The Ringbearer could endure this no longer, and began to back away, caring little of what the man thought now, "No!"

"Why do you recoil? I am no thief!" he said, and even Boromir could hear the madness in his tone.

"You are not yourself!" Frodo cried, and the Ring knew that its prey was close to falling.

"What chance do you think you have? They will find you. They will take the Ring. And you will beg for death before the end! You fool! It is not yours save by unhappy chance." he snarled, the Ring speaking through his voice, attacking through his actions, and the man began to stalk towards Frodo, who tried to run, but to no avail, "It could have been mine. It should be mine!"

The man lunged towards Frodo, grabbing him and pulling him to the ground, pawing at the neck of his shirt where the One Ring should hang, "Give it to me! Give me the Ring!"

Frodo struggled desperately, but Boromir was bigger and stronger and a fully trained warrior. At last, he managed to grab the Ring from Boromir's grasping hand and slip it onto his finger, and then he disappeared and used the warrior's confusion to whack him across the face.

Boromir staggered back up to pursue him, "I see your mind!! You will take the Ring to Sauron! You will betray us! You go to your death! And the death of us all! Curse you! Curse you and all the Halflings!" He raved, and then he slipped and fell, and abruptly he felt the Ring's control of him falter, and he was himself once more.

"Frodo? Frodo? What have I done? Please, Frodo…" he cried, and as shame shrivelled his pride, he wept softly for in the end, he had not had the strength to resist the Ring's call, "Frodo, I'm sorry! Frodo!" he cried to the silent woods, but there was no answer.

He lay there for some time, running through his deplorable actions, and hate built up within him for the Ring. Unbidden, the words of Buffy came back to him, 'You are a better man than Denethor could ever be. Prove it. If the Ring… bothers you, I'll try to help, but please, don't give into it.'

He had failed in his word, and in his pledge to protect Frodo, but he would not lie down and allow the Dark Lord to laugh at his weakness.

He may have fallen to the Ring, and he would live with it for the rest of his days, but he had to redeem himself, instead of lying down in the dirt. He owed Frodo that much. He owed them all that much.

He staggered unsteadily to his feet, intending to seek out Buffy and tell her what he had done, but as he walked through the forest, his heart heavy, he heard the tramping of orc-feet, their faint cries and snarls, - all too familiar to the man of Gondor.

Drawing his sword, he headed in the direction of the sounds. Frodo was out there alone and undefended, because of him, and he would not allow the Ringbearer to fall. Whatever the cost to himself.

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As the Dwarf huffed and puffed as he tried to keep up with the much fleeter Slayer, Buffy heard the call of the Ring, close by. And then the voice of Frodo came to her ears and without any other warning, the Ringbearer himself came upon them.

"Frodo!" Buffy exclaimed in relief, "Are you okay? Have you seen Boromir?"

The hobbit eyed them warily, "The Ring has taken Boromir," he said quietly.

Gimli swore and Buffy gasped, "Did he take the Ring from you, Frodo?" she asked urgently.

He stepped back from them, as if afraid and she turned hurt eyes upon him, "I would not hurt you, Frodo."

"But so said Boromir, and the Ring still took him. I must make my own way now."

"You mean to go on alone?" Gimli asked with a snort, "And how do you propose to do that?"

"I have no time," Frodo said with urgency, "Orcs are here. They attacked at the Seeing Seat. Aragorn has drawn them off but I must go."

"Aragorn?" Buffy said in dismay and grasped Frodo's wrist, "Who is with him?"

"No one," he answered and caused Gimli to mutter most unfavourably under his breath about the sheer stubbornness of fool rangers.

Buffy felt torn between her promise to the Ringbearer and her duty towards Aragorn, but in the end duty won out, "Run!", she said to him, "Run swiftly and silently and get to the boats. Take enough supplies to last you, twice as much as you think you will need and leave. They will not follow you onto the river. If the orcs have crossed to this shore, then you should get to the east bank safely. From there you have to cross the Emyn Muil and so into Mordor. Be careful, Frodo and may the Valar ensure your safety, for I cannot!"

He nodded and ran off, Buffy watched him go. "Find Legolas!" she said to Gimli, "I don't even want to think of how many orcs Aragorn is fighting alone. Tell the Elf to get his bow there in double time!"

She meant to run after Aragorn, and help the beleaguered ranger out but somehow her thoughts kept drifting to Boromir, and she knew that she had to find him before he did something stupid like get himself killed. She was not prepared to let the Mirror's vision come true.

With a Dwarven curse of her own, she veered off the trail and tried to find the man of Gondor.

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While helping Frodo get away from the Uruk-hai, Merry and Pippin would readily admit in the future that perhaps they had not thought things through. Because by attracting their attention, they had the slight problem of having to run for their lives themselves.

Unfortunately, their flight came to an abrupt end when another group of Uruk-hai came towards them, trapping them between two groups of livid monsters. It was not the ideal situation for two young hobbits to be in.

Even as they were surrounded, and the Uruk-hai started to lunge at them, from nowhere, Boromir appeared as if he was their saviour and started hacking and slashing at the orcs as he fought his way over to the hobbits whose swords were not felling so many orcs as they were angering them.

Boromir saw that he was badly outnumbered and lifting the heirloom horn of his house to his lips, he blew it and the sound echoed throughout the area.

Then standing in front of Merry and Pippin, his sword a whirling metal blur and his shield taking many hits, he waited for an opportunity to present itself. He could only hope that it would come.

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In front of the Seeing Seat, a fierce fight still raged, with Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli fighting off the many Uruk-hai that swarmed the area.

But then the piercing note of a horn shattered the clash of metal on metal and the singing of Legolas's bow, and the Elf's ear identified it instantly, "The Horn of Gondor…" he said, looking at his comrades with apprehension.

Aragorn's eyes widened in alarm, "Boromir!" Slashing at the nearest Uruk-hai, the ranger led the way as the trio raced their way towards Boromir's call.

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In the wood, Buffy too heard the horn, and she shivered as she realised that what she had seen was coming to pass, whatever she did to try to stop it.

Picking up speed, she raced in the direction of the horn, hoping to Eru that she would not be too late, and that she had not failed Boromir at the last.

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Boromir's shield arm was wracked with pain from the fierce blows landing on his shield, and reverberating up his arm, making his very bones ache at the force of it. His sword was nocked from the Uruk-hai's armour and he was tiring as they sensed his weakening and pressed him even harder.

He looked anxiously at the terrified faces of Merry and Pippin, and he knew that he had to get them out of here, else he would fall and then they would have nothing standing between them and death.

Kicking an orc in the chest, knocking him back into his fellows, he grabbed hold of their jackets and dragged them along with him as he broke through the gap in the orcs and started to run, the guttural invectives of the Uruk-hai reaching their ears as they gave chase.

When the man's back was turned, a Uruk-hai stepped up with a crossbow and fired. The black bolt struck Boromir in the shoulder and he faltered, grasping it in shock and gasping painfully as he sank to his knees. He urged the hobbits to run, to leave him, he would only slow them down, but Pippin, unable to do it, raced back and grabbed Boromir's free hand. He jerked Boromir forward and in doing so unwittingly saving the man's life for another crossbow bolt, one that would have penetrated his chest, sailed by the man's head, barely missing him.

Pippin stared at it in shock and then started pulling Boromir up. This time 'twas the young hobbit that dragged the man along.

As the man did his best to ignore the jolting pain in his shoulder, he urged the hobbits to run as fast as he could, his longer stride easily keeping pace. He knew that the Uruk-hai were gaining on them and if some miracle did not happen soon, they would all fall to their cruel hands.

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The Falls of Rauros, 3019 TA, February 26.

It was not enough. And when they raced out of the woods only to find a sheer drop in front of them, they knew the game was over. They were trapped with only a fall into the falls or the orcs to choose their death from.

Boromir's sword flashed in his good hand as he met the Uruk-hai that streamed out after him blow for blow. But the archer took up his crossbow again and this time, the bolt flew into his arm, the same one whose shoulder was already wounded. Boromir fell the ground at the force of it and the Uruks pounced on him, bringing him down with blows and fists.

The warrior of Gondor tried to rise to his feet when he saw that Merry and Pippin were surrounded but he could not get past the Uruks surrounding him, who drove him ever closer to the ledge.

Even though the hobbits tried their hardest to fight, they were overpowered and swung up onto the shoulders of the Uruks, carted away like sacks of grain and Boromir could do nothing to help them.

Even as he fought to go to their aid, the Uruks herded him back, until at last he made a misstep. Crying out in shock as the ground gave way beneath his feet, his sword fell from his grip as he went over the edge.

The Uruks jeered him at his fall and heeded their leader who shouted for the maggots to get moving, they had a delivery to make.

His fingers scrabbling at the loose shale, one arm next to useless to him, he desperately grabbed at the crumbling ledge, fighting to hold onto his life, even as the roar of the falls sounded beneath him…

And the Uruk-hai archer was coming towards him once more, crossbow raised…

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A/N: Well? What do you think? Ah, now do I kill him or not? Please READ and REVIEW!!!!

Next chapter: We learn Boromir's fate…. Buffy and Gimli receive some interesting news… the first intro of Faramir into this fic… and something stirs in the east….

Elvish:

Gilthoniel - star-kindler

Mellon - friend

Elessar - Elf-stone

Dagnir - Slayer

fëa - spirit

fëar - spirits

Edhil - Elves

Namárië - farewell

Finarfiniel - daughter of Finarfin

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Caras Galadhon - City of the Trees. The city in Lothlórien where Galadriel and Celeborn reside.

Heren Istarion - Order of Wizards

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

Moria - 'The Black Chasm', later name for the great works of the Dwarves under the Misty Mountains. Called Khazad-dûm in Dwarvish.

Narya - the Ring of Fire. Set with a ruby stone. One of the Three Elven Rings. Originally given to Círdan, it was passed onto Gandalf when he arrived in Middle Earth during the Third Age.

Nenya - The Elven ring of Water. Galadriel is its Keeper.

Parth Galen - 'Green Sward'.

Varda - greatest of the Queens of the Valar. She is the maker of the stars, and the wife of Manwë.

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

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