12. Dancing

"Pride and dignity would belong to women if only men would leave them alone"
Egyptian Proverb

Imladris May 27/6 Laire 2970 III Age

Buffy woke early despite her late night chat and challenge with Legolas. But she had good reason to. Today she had a challenge and it was one that she knew that she could step up to easily.

Dressing quickly in her usual tunic and pants she made her way to breakfast. Elrond and Erestor were already at the table when she arrived. Elrond's eyebrows rose ever so slightly at the sight of her early morning appearance and she couldn't help but smile at him mischievously.

"What mischief have you planned pen neth? he asked in a tone of one who dreads the answer but knows it is futile to try and stop it.

Buffy smiled as she poured herself a goblet of water.She knew that she was going to get a reaction from her response and wanted to time it perfectly. Very nochatannly she replied. "I've challenged the prince to a fight. If he wins I have to go to Mirkwood with him and if I win he has to spend two weeks as my personal servant."

Elrond's brows rose at this and Buffy couldn't suppress a smile. Erestor choked on a bite of food and tried to stifle a fit of coughing.

Erestor's mumbled "Why am I not surprised." earned him a look from both and Buffy felt the laughter bubbling up.

"What are you not surprised about?" came the gwenyn's voices in unison as they entered the room.

Buffy popped a bite bread in her mouth and smiled. After she had finished chewing and the gwenyn had seated themselves she replied.

"Oh I challenged Legolas to a fight last night and we put a bet on it." Buffy smirked as she continued to plow through her food.

The gwenyn both smiled in glee at hearing this.

"And what are the terms thel neth? Elrohir asked (little sister)

"He wins I go to Mirkwood with him. I win he becomes my personal servant for two weeks."

Taking a final drink from her goblet she stood and made her way to the door.

Turning to each other the gwenyn smiled with mischief in their eyes.

Erestor's muttered "Thranduil is going to be very upset when he learns of his heir being a servant." went utterly ignored as the gwenyn rushed through their meal in order to see the show.

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About an hour later Legolas arrived at the training fields to find what he considered a most unusual sight. A large group had gathered to witness the outcome of the challenge between the Prince of Mirkwood and the Lady Dagnir who they considered one of their own.

Buffy sat in a heap next to Arwen. She had discarded her gown for leggings and a tunic with her long hair plaited in the back. Across her back could be was strapped and elven sword in a beautiful but worn sheath. Legolas smiled at the sight she presented. She looked to be a boneless lump sitting with her side to him but he could tell that she knew he had arrived even without the seeing the reactions of the gathered crowd.

She laughed together with Arwen at something said softly by Elrohir and Legolas was struck again by the beauty of the two. They were sharp contrasts. One dark, elegant, graceful and a true lady by every standard. The other golden, witty, vibrant and a creature of contrasts.

The two turned to face him and stood.

"All right lets get this party started. So blades or not?" Buffy asked as she dusted the grass from her legs.

"Blades."

They moved away from the group to the group further into the field. Legolas drew his twin blades and Buffy her sword. She stretched her muscles for a moment with her back to him and then turned. Her eyes were dancing as she spoke.

"Let's dance."

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Glorfindel approached the gwenyn with a smile on his face as the two blondes made their way further into the field.

"I assume you did not warn the Prince of the tithen dagnir's very unusual methods of fighting?" he asked (little slayer)

"Of course not. It is far more amusing to watch him learn on his own." replied Elladan with a broad smile.

"And his humiliation will be even more amusing than anything we could do to him during his visit." said Elrohir as he smiled.

Glorfindel smiled at both of them. They were right of course. The small child of man was infinitely more than she seemed and watching the young prince of Mirkwood be beaten would be a most amusing experience.

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"Let's dance."

The words had barely left her mouth before she moved; her blade coming down at him much more quickly than any man could move. He blocked it and moved with his own long daggers to attack. She blocked him smoothly; a smile on her face.

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Glorfindel watched with the gwenyn as the two on the field tested each other. Legolas moving with the grace of the Eldar and Buffy with one that was unlike anything they had ever witnessed.

After a few minutes fighting Elladan spoke up. "She is holding back."

"Yes she is. But look at her face tôren; she is enjoying herself. (my brother)

They watched as Buffy managed to knock one of the blades from the prince's hand with a well placed kick that took the prince by surprise. Legolas moved to attack even more strongly. After several long moments he managed to knock Buffy's blade away and stood facing her with the blade to her neck.

"And now he learns his lesson." Glorfindel commented to no one in particular.

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Legolas smiled in triumph as e held the blade to the small woman's neck.

"Do you yield?" he asked.

"Hardly." she replied as she moved much faster than he could see. Flipping backward and kicking the blade from his hand as she moved. The blade flew up into the air and she deftly caught it. Reversing their positions in a less than a moment. She wasn't even breathing hard he noted and had a look of complete seriousness in her eyes.

"Remember Thranduilion, victory is never gauranteed because you hold the weapon and you enemy does not."

Legolas saw the truth in her words and knew he was beaten.

"I yield." he said stiffly. The gwenyn would never let him live this down but then no one else would either.

Buffy smiled and flipped the blade holding the handle out to him to take. "Great! So now I have my own personal servant. hmmmm What could I make you do?"

They were interrupted by the arrival of the gwenyn and Arwen. Following close behind was Glorfindel with a smile on his face. Coming up beside the defeated prince he asked "You do know that she barely tried?"

Legolas gave him an incredulous look and he smiled.

"You will learn one day. She could face the armies of Sauran alone and come out the victor."

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The rest of the day had been great for Buffy. She had gained a servant if temporarily and the gwenyn had amused all but Legolas with their teasing.

It was late again as she lay in her bed unable to sleep. She was feeling that pull again in he back of her mind. It had shown itself during dinner and wouldn't go away.

Buffy knew it wouldn't leave her; let her sleep. Giving up she made her way to her favorite spot in the garden again for the second night in a row.

She lay on the bench and gazed at the stars as her mind went back over the results of the last tie the feeling had arisen. It had only gone away when she had succumbed to it and left. But where should she go? Back to Minas Tirith? Never in a million years. To Lorien? It wasn't pulling her there. So where was it pulling her?

Her fierce concentration was marred though by the sound of a throat being cleared. Buffy didn't stop staring at the sky though.

"What?" she asked

"Something troubles you." Legolas replied softly. It wasn't a question but a statement.

Turning her head slightly to look at him she saw the strange look of concern in his eyes. "Yeah."

"Do you wish to share?" he asked.

Buffy turned her gaze back to the stars above her. "I feel something pulling me from here. The need to leave. When it comes I can't ignore it. It won't go away."

"Perhaps you should come to Taur-e-Nelaedelos with us when we leave." he offered.

Buffy thought on it for a moment. Mirkwood was near Dol Guldur which would mean that she would have plenty to slay and the chance to be somewhere new might appease the nagging feeling in her head.

"I'll go.

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