15. Bridges

"Delay is the deadliest form of denial"
-C. Northcote Parkinson,

Mirkwood May 8/41 Tuile 2975 III Age

Buffy was leaning on one of the massive tree trunks that outlined the training area watching Legolas and Aragorn spar. They were beautiful to watch. Both very different and both the same.

In five years with her Legolas had learned all she could teach. Most elves never went into a fight without a weapon because they never needed one in one of thier cities; and so other than basic hand to hand they knew little of bare hands fighting. It had taken her years to convince the gwenyn that they needed to learn and then they were slow to do so saying that no elf would ever be mad enough to be unarmed in battle.

Legolas on the other hand loved to learn new ways to fight. He'd soaked up at an alarming rate everything she could teach him. The Eldar had their own ways and style of fighting and while she knew them she preferred what Giles had taught her and so she had taught them to Legolas. He very close to her equal. She was still slightly faster and her smaller build allowed her to do things that he couldn't but he could match her now and she was proud of him.

And he'd taught her things as well. Elves were amazingly agile like her and Legolas had helped her refine balance and other things. But he could still beat her with a bow every time. She knew it was because he'd had one in his hands for well over a thousand years but it still sucked that she could never beat him.

But they still had very distinct methods of fighting. Legolas preferred his bow while she preferred her blades. Which in the long run left Buffy with more orc chuncks in her hair and blood on her clothes but after 50 years of wrecking her wardrobe didn't seem too horrible.

Buffy concentrated on the two fighting. Aragorn was good. Better than any man she'd ever seen. She had no doubts that he could have beat both Angel and Spike with a blade. Legolas however possessed an almost Asian grace and she knew exactly where it had come from.

Legolas was grace and fluidity. Aragorn power and form. Exact opposites and yet together they made a combination that few sane men would be stupid enough to challenge. They were beautiful to watch.

Buffy mentally shook herself. There was to be no thinking of beautiful in regards to Legolas. Ever. It was just creepy and wrong. And Aragorn. They were related. Well Legolas and everyone else did say they were though how she wasn't sure. She was the foster daughter of his foster father's wife. Not exactly a close relation. But there would be no thinking of Aragorn in those terms. Males were now meant for friendships and family. There would be no more romance for Buffy she silently swore.

None at all.

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Aragorn was still unsure what to make of the tiny woman who had entered his life so abruptly twice. He knew now that she was the one he'd heard in the garden so many years ago. The woman whose eyes haunted his dreams for years. And yet to look at her now you couldn't see the pain any longer.

Gone was that look of utter sadness, regret and longing. A look that he had seen in the eyes of himself more than once over the years. Now her gaze was more calm and serene. It seemed as though she had accepted what had caused the haunted look and found a new light inside herself.

After two weeks he had seen more sides to her than he could name. Her impression had become marred on the morning after the confrontation with the Nazgul. She had been cut by its blade and in her sleep the poison had taken effect. Knowing that he life was in danger and that time was of the essence they had mounted the two horses and raced for help. Aragorn was a healer yes but even he could not heal a would from a morgul blade without altheas.

They arrived late into the day with her still unconscious in his arms. She was cold to the touch but not as cold as she should have been. She appeared to be fighting and that was a good sign.

Three days later she had emerged from her room in the castle and had amazed him by asking Legolas if he wanted to go to train with her.

Now over a week later she appeared calm and content watching as others fought. A rage of emotions playing across her eyes.

He was not sure what to make of her yet and still her eyes drew him in constantly.

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Mirkwood October 10/13 Quelle 2975 III Age

"Oh come on Legolas! This sucks! Five years! Five years and I still haven't beaten you! You have to be cheating." Buffy complained as Legolas managed to beat her yet again at target practice.

Aragorn was laughing from his place next to Legolas and Buffy shot him a glare. Which only made him laugh harder. Attempting to keep the peace and Buffy from trying to throttle Aragorn or himself he replied. "Remember mellon nin I have had much longer than you to practice."

"So what. I still say you're cheating." Buffy pouted.

"He is not and you know it. Stop being a child" Aragorn replied

"Bite me. You're the same age I am Aragorn." Buffy retorted putting her arms across her chest

"Will the two of you please stop." Legolas replied knowing they were about to degenerate into another childish argument for what felt like the millionth time this week alone. His father had begun the now rampant wagering over whether or not they would kill one another or end up wed or if they did kill one another when it would happen.

"NO!" they both yelled in unison.

"You're just jealous that Legolas and I are better with a bow that you Dagnir." Aragorn taunted smirk on his face

"I am not! And I'm better with a sword than both of you!" Buffy yelled

"That is because you are too small to actually hit." Aragorn snarked back as he looked pointedly down at her. He was well over a foot taller and he knew exactly how it irritate her now.

"Oh no you did not just go and make fun of the height. Thats it I'm gonna kill you myself. Save Sauran the trouble!" Buffy growled and moved to launch herself at Aragorn. Legolas decided to stop the fight and stepped in grabbing the tiny warrior by the waist and pulling her back forcibly from her quarry.

"Will you two stop now or must I write your naneth dagnir. And your adar Estel?" Legolas asked. Buffy stopped struggling and Aragorn looked slightly taken aback that his closest friend would resort to essentially telling on him. When neither responded he nodded and let Buffy go.

"Thank you. Now lets go to dinner before my adar thinks you have murdered one another again."

"I still say its cheating." Buffy mumbled under her breath as she trudged a good distance after Legolas

Coming up next to her Aragorn whispered softly. "We would do better to unite against him. Truce?"

Buffy looked at him warily for a moment and then turned her gaze at the Elvish Prince. "Deal. But no more short jokes or I rip out your rib cage and use it as a quiver."

Legolas heard the conversation going on behind him and let out a sigh. This could be the start of a great friendship or the death of him. He wasn't sure. Perhaps his adar was right or perhaps he should hide while he still could.

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Mirkwood January 30/71 Hrive 2976 III Age

It was late and Aragorn was sitting outside in the cold night air thinking about his life. He had a destiny they said. To be the king of men. It wasn't something he wanted at all. He wanted to go back to when he was young and had nothing more to worry about than not getting caught by Erestor.

"Don't brood." came Buffy's voice out of the darkness as she moved twards him.

"I am not as you say "brooding'" he replied.

"Yes you are Aragorn. I know that face. I used to make that face. Its called 'I'm made at fate for giving m some grand destiny and obligation when all I want is to be normal' face"

"And what would you know of it?"

"How about everything? I was just a normal girl until I was 15 and then suddenly I'm given this duty and obligation and grand destiny. I really didn't want it. Spent a long time fighting against it too. Then I realized that you can't fight it. It will never go away." she replied softly

He thought about her words and lifted his head to look into her eyes but she was gone. Fading into the shadows to leave him to his thoughts.

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Mirkwood April 10/13 Tuile 2976 III Age

It was raining again and he always did he sat with her on her balcony as it came down. They rarely spoke but he was there none the less. It had become silent custom after the first time he had found her. Occasionally she would tell him bits about her past but more often than naught they simply enjoyed the others company as they remembered their pasts.

He was thinking again on the Undómiel when her voice cut through his thoughts.

"It is time for me to leave mellon nîn. My something is calling me to Lorien. My dreams keep calling me to my home. I don't know why but its pulling me." her gaze was on the rain but her words were directed at him

"Is it like before? This need to leave." he queried.

"No it feels different somehow. Before it was a feeling that I needed to be somewhere else. Anywhere else. This, its specific and much stronger." replied still staring into the rain.

"Then you should take your leave from us." Legolas replied. He knew she would not stay forever. They had become close in the last six years. He would sorely miss her company.

"Will you come with me?" she asked softly

"Be iest lîn. Though it cannot be for long." (as you wish)

"Diola lle mellon nin" (thank you my friend)

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