13. Rain
"Often I must speak other than I think. That is called diplomacy."
Stilgar-Dune Messiah- Frank Herbert
Mirkwood September 18/48 Yavie 2970 III Age
Buffy was ever so grateful for the hot bath she had just finished. Cleaning the grime of travel and the various nastieness of the orcs they had fought the day before they arrived was more than heavenly.
She was dressing for her first formal meeting with Thranduil. The first one hadn't been the best real impression she could have made. She had been covered in grime, blood, sweat and more disgusting things than she'd rather mention when they had rode in.
Apparently Thranduil hadn't been expecting her to come back with Legolas and he had expected even less to see the foster daughter of the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien covered in what she referred to as 'orc chunks'. He had recovered quickly and ordered a room made ready for her and several other things she had ignored because she was too busy looking over at Legolas. He had a small smirk on his face at the obviously irritated and slightly flustered look on his adar's face. Buffy couldn't help but smile herself when she had seen that. She knew Legolas' facial expressions pretty well by now and she knew how much he was enjoying the show.
Over the last few months she and Legolas had begun a real friendship. He was a lot like the gwenyn sometimes so they appreciated eachother's need to pick at one another. He'd also devloped a older brother tendency with her. But it wasn't like the relationship she had with the gwenyn or even Arwen, he treated her more like one would a twin. The fact that they looked similar in a few ways just made it more disturbing.
She suspected that this devlopment came from a lot of diferent sources. No doubt the gwenyn had had a chat with him about keeping her safe. But the rest just seemed like it was something he had devloped on his own. She didn't know what it was about males and being protective of her. It was so very annoying but in the three forms of the gwenyn and Legolas she let it slide. They didn't try to keep her from fighting and they never held her back when she wanted to do something. Their protectiveness was very understated. It was there she saw it but they never acted on it. Which was more than fine with her.
Finishing the touches on her hair she made her way across the large bedroom to when she knew Legolas would be waiting for her. He was very predictible. Slightly on the insane side like all the elves of Mirkwood from what she had heard but still a good guy.
She found him waiting just outside the door. He cleaned up pretty well she thought. Well he was georgeous like all elves no matter how he looked but after living with them for half her life the 'oh god so hot!' factor was clearly gone.
He offered her an arm and they made their way down to the formal reception room where she was to be greeted properly by Thranduil. She really didn't want to and Legolas obviously knew it so he did his best to reassure her in that oh so annoying serene way he had. It really annoyed her at times that he could be so calm in these kinds of situations. She'd only seen him do it once before but she knew the blonde had devloped into an art. Buffy had faced the Master, Angelus, Spike, Adam a big haired hell god, and the First evil and yet these situations still got to her.
Taking several deep calming breaths as they approached the doors of the hall she lifted her chin and entered; still holdiing Legolas' arm elegantly.
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Legolas smiled as he felt the tiny form next to him take several deep breaths. She raised her chin and as they entered his adar's reception hall he couldn't help but think that she reminded him of her foster mother. She appeared regal and Legolas couldn't help feel amusement at the thought. Buffy was anything but regal a large portion of the time. She preferred to be fighting, argueing with others good naturedly or getting into various trouble with the gwenyn.
In his few months with her he had come to see her much as the gwenyn saw her. She was beautiful yes but her beauty did not lay in form as much as spirit. She brought out the best in everyone and in his heart he thanked her for that.
For as long as he had known her he had been in love with the Undómiel. After her naneth's passage into the undying lands she had changed greatly. Now this tiny young child of men had changed her again. She had brought back the spark of life to her and for that alone the golden slayer would forever hold a place in his heart.
They made their way across the hall to where his father was waiting. All the while Legolas knew that this woman was going to greatly shock his father.
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You know life can be so sad
Sometimes you just sit right down and cry
You know life can be so sad
Sometimes you just sit right down, and you cry
Sometime your luck it gets so bad
Maybe you'd be better off if you should die
Yes I've tried so hard not to remember
And people I've tried so hard to forget
I've tried so hard not to remember
And people I've tried so hard to forget
But I can't stop my mind wandering
Back to the days I was just a down trodden kid
Some folks have such a good life
You know they just get on that big train, and you ride
You know some folks have such a good life
They just get on that big train, and you ride
I would spend most of my days
Running and hiding from the world outside
If I ever get to heaven
You know, that sure would ease my worried mind
Yes, if I ever get to heaven
That sure would ease my worried life
You know when I find that place in the sky
People I'm gonna leave this old world behind
-Trying So Hard To Forget-Fleetwood Mac
Mirkwood April 22/25 Tuile 2975 III Age
Legolas found her as he always did when it was raining. She was sitting on her balcony starting out into the torrent. When it rained she became sad, thoughtful, haunted. He had a small idea why but she had never told him the entire truth.
She sat with her feet curled up under her; looking out into the rain. Over the years they had become close. In eachother they saw an understanding. Neither had ever wanted to be born into the role they played and yet they had.
His adar had been more than surprised my her inital behavior but had become great friends. Legolas attributed it to the fact that they both loved the hunt. It seemed amusing to him that though she called all wood elves 'paranoid, insane and psycotic' she still acted just like them.
Deciding that he had let her be for lon enough he voiced a question that he had held back for years.
"Why are you so sad when it rains mellon nîn?"
He saw her sigh and after a few moments she turned her eyes up to the treetops.
"I promised to only remember my time before here when it rains." she replied softly.
"Do you wish to speak about it?" he moved twards her and stopped just beside her her sitting form.
"No. The telling never makes it easier."
He turned to leave her to her peace when her had shot out and grabbed his own. He turned to see her still staring out into the rain. Her whispered "please stay." all he needed for him to turn back around fully and wait with his friend.
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"Place your clothes and weapons where you can find them in the dark."
Time Enough for Love-Robert Heinlein
Buffy stood in the middle of the forest. She knew the place. It wasn't far from Dol Guldur; the outcropping of rocks familliar to her. It wasn't a place any went to alone. Too close to the home of the Nazgul to chance a meeting without help.
Buffy sniffed the air. It was warm and damp; like it would be just after the rain at night. The forest seemed calm but there was always something out there. Something waiting in the shadows.
The scene flashed and now Buffy watched as a single man fought against over a dozen orcs. He fought well; holding his own against the odds. As he turned her way finally she let out a small gasp. It was Aragorn. The implications of the revelation however were cut short by the unmistakable screech of one of the Nazgul as it bore down.
Buffy sat up in bed suddenly her dream still horribly vivid. There was no mistaking her dream. It was a slayer dream and she had not had one in over twenty five years. She forced her mind to focus. Aragorn was in trouble and she needed to find him and fast. She recalled the moist air and forced herslelf to look out onto her balcony. It was still raining hard with no sign of it letting up in the day to follow. That meant she still had a little time. She had to move. She had to find Aragorn.
She all but jumped out of bed and began to dress. She strapped every weapon she had to her body. Her twin blades much like Legolas' and a gift from him as well across her back first. Followed by the sword her naneth had given her. It sat over the other blades and left the hilt sitting just behind her head. He bow and quiver. And her various assortment of knives coming next.
Finally she grabbed her cloak and set off running for the stables.
She had to find Aragorn.
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Legolas was at the doors to Buffy's room just before dawn broke the horizon. They were to go on patrol and leave a little past dawn. Normally Buffy would have been in the dining hall before the eating with the rest of the party before they set out but she had not shown up. It was unusual to say the least.
Legolas noticed something else unusual as well. Her doors were open. He came into the room and looked around. The bed appeared slept in but her weapons and gear were gone. All of her weapons. She never took them all at once unless they were to be near Dol Guldur and this patrol was not. That meant that something was definately wrong. Even she would not dare a trip so close to the home of the Nazgul without a good reason.
He turned and ran for the stables quickly. Something was wrong and he had to find his friend. Thanking the Valar that he was already fully armed for the patrol he made his way to his already waiting horse.
He had to find Buffy.
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