18. Here Tonight

If I could change the currents of our lives
To make the river flow where it's run dry
To be a prodigal of father time
Then I would see you tonight

If I could find the years that went away
Destroying all the cruelty of fate
I must believe that love will find a way
Tonight

Lonely finds me
One day you will come
But I'll wait for love's sake
One day to me, love

If I could see beyond the here and now
If you could hear me calling you somehow
If I could know that love is reaching out
To find you with me here tonight

Then hope could make these promises come true
Beyond what I could say, what love can do
With every moment leading me to you tonight

Lonely finds me
One day you will come
But I'll wait for love's sake
One day to me, love

I will stay forever here until that one day comes
Praying time will bring you near, I'll wait for your love

If I could change the currents of our lives
To make the river flow where it's run dry
To be a prodigal of father time
Then I would see you tonight

Lonely finds me
One day you will come
But I'll wait for love's sake
One day to me, love

Lonely finds me
One day you will come
But I'll wait for love's sake
One day to me, love
One day to me, love
One day to me, love

I will stay forever here. I'll wait for your love
One Day-Trading Yesterday-2004

Aragorn sat out in the training field where he had found Buffy the night of the party thinking back on the last fortnight. In the days since Arwen had pushed them into each other his feelings had only grown. They spent afternoons together going through the stories of Buffy's child hood home. So far they had covered stories called. 'Cinderella', 'Beauty and the Beast', and were now on a story called 'The Little Mermaid'. Progress was slow due to his own designs. The longer they took to finish the book the more time he could spend alone with her.

Their time alone was something he looked forward to every day because the more time she spent with him then perhaps the closer he could get to her. He already knew his feelings for her and he knew that she felt something for him. He could feel it in her; but she refused to acknowledge it.

It couldn't be from fear, he reasoned, she said many times before that she feared nothing anymore. So if not fear; it had to be some other reason. The only thing he could consider was that she did not notice his feelings or if she did thought that she was mistaken in what she saw. Which left only one course of action to solve both; he had to let her know.

The only question was how.

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The battle raging in her head wouldn't stop. Sleep meant dreams she didn't want and pacing her room was doing nothing to calm her. She just didn't know what to do about Aragorn.

Or about herself.

Giving up on pacing she grabbed her bow and quiver; slinging both over her back. It looked odd to see a woman in a black and silver gown wearing a circlet on her head with weapons slung across her back as she glanced into her mirror on her way out the door. She didn't care though. Her thoughts were too jumbled as she made her way to the training fields to vent her frustrations on an innocent target.

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Aragorn heard the 'thump' of an arrow hitting a target; a sound that shouldn't be heard at this hour of night. Deciding that discovering who the late night archer was was a pleasant distraction over his thoughts of Buffy he pulled himself from the ground and went to investigate.

After a few moments of intentionally silent movement he came upon a sight that was one of the most beautiful he had ever beheld. There in the moonlight was Buffy.

She still wore the gown from earlier in the day. It was black with silver sleves. Unlike most of her dresses the sleeves were not long and draping but came just past her wrists with a small split at the underside The bodice of the gown was covered in fine silver embroidery as was the hem of the full skirt. Her hair was worn down save for two small braids just above each ear that held the rest of the mass of gold away from her face. On her head sat yet another mithril circlet; this one like several of her others resembled a butterfly.

Aragorn had heard Celeborn call Buffy "Nin wilwarin" at the party and it seemed that as Arwen was known as the Undómiel; Buffy was known as the Wilwarin among the Eldar.

And Celeborn was right. She was like a butterfly bathed in the soft moonlight. She was graceful as she pulled arrow after arrow from the quiver on her back and let it fly from her bow; the complete beauty of her only slightly marred by the look of fierce concentration on her features.

Making a quick decision and hoping to Eru that he wouldn't make a fool of himself her made his way to her; careful to remain silent lest she turn and shoot him.

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Buffy knew it was wrong but she was picturing Arwen's head as she shot at the target. The elleth had gotten her in this situation intentionally. Never mind that she was attempting to make sure that Buffy could accomplish her mission of getting Aragorn on the throne. Buffy knew her intentions were in the right place but she was still pissed off about it. Arwen couldn't know that she had felt something for Aragorn when she pushed them together to help form a bond of trust.

Knowing that picturing the closest thing she had to a sister as a target was evil mean and wrong she tried for another image but none came to mind. So she just continued to shoot while her irritation and conflicted feelings simmered.

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Aragorn stopped about five feet from Buffy and waited for a moment for her to notice him.

Moments passed and she continued to shoot.

Deciding that warning her of his approach or forcing her to acknowledge him was best lest she shoot or attack him he spoke.

"Buffy"

He took a step.

"Buffy"

He took another step.

"BUFFY"

He took another two steps coming up to her as he yelled.

Whipping around Buffy's fist lashed out at his jaw and sent him back several feet where he landed with a thud, dazed.

"Oh my god! Aragorn I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed as she ran forward and knelt nest to him.

Staying still for a moment to assess his now bruised body and jaw he realized that Buffy was right next to him. Opening his eyes he looked into her worried green gaze as he sat up.

"Are you all right? Did I break anything? I'm so sorry." She rambled as ran her hands over him checking for broken bones. The feel of her touch starting low on his body and working its way up making him very aware of what he had decided earlier. When her hands moved to his face and she leaned in to look at his jaw he couldn't resist; he leaned forward and kissed her.

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Buffy was leaning in to Check Aragorn's jaw where she'd hit him when his lips came down softly on hers. She stiffened instantly at the contact; she hand't been kissed since coming to Arda and this felt good.

Without thought she relaxed into the kiss. After a moment she felt something that she remembered well; Aragorn's tongue softly asking admittance. She parted her lips slightly and felt the kiss deepen. It was still soft and sweet but she could feel the passion underneath the surface and as Aragorn's hand moved up to weave into the hair at the nape of her neck she began to respond. Their tongues danced with each other; the kiss growing more heated with every moment. Buffy could feel the fire starting to burn deep within herself a fire that hadn't been kindled in decades as Aragorn's right hand softly massaged her scalp and the fingers of his left caressed her cheek. And then suddenly she remembered why; she wasn't done baking yet.

She pulled away suddenly, panting, and gazed into a pair of gray eyes that seemed to drown her. So much was bared there for her to see. She could see his emotion, his love, his desire, and most of all his fear because she had pulled away so suddenly. And then she knew it.

She loved him.

She loved his smile, she loved his laugh, she loved his heart, she loved his strength, she loved him

And is scared her to death because she could see what she felt in his eyes.

It was overwhelming.

She needed to think, to run, to escape because if she didn't then she knew there was no hope for her. She'd never get him out of her system.

She moved quickly to stand and within a breath she was moving away from him.

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Aragorn stared into her eyes with elation as he saw the look pass over them. She loved him and now he knew it. But as suddenly as the look appeared she was moving. Moving away from him.

Ignoring his body's protests he stood quickly and sprinted after her. Knowing that she would take the shortcut through her mother's garden.

After several long moments he caught up to her. Despite being dagnir she could not run quickly in a gown. Grabbing her shoulder he spun her around to face him. He would not lose her. He loved her with all of his being and no matter what protests she had he had seen the same love in her eyes.

"Buffy! Daro! Le melon." he pleaded looking down into her eyes. (stop! I love you.)

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Buffy froze at his words as he stared into her eyes. They were burning her from the inside out. Burning out all her doubt of the truth of his feelings. Her body relaxed slightly of its own accord and she leaned into him; unsure of what to do. His arms wrapped around her gently as he tucked her into his shoulder.

"Edro gûr lín" he whispered (open your heart)

"Im gosta." she replied not knowing any other way to explain why she had run. (I'm afraid)

"Do not be afraid to love me, meleth, I will never harm you"

"How can you be so sure?" she asked tilting her head up slightly.

"Because your pain is mine. As will be every moment of happiness I can give you." he replied as he caressed her back.

"I'm not sure I'm ready for th..."

He silenced her with a kiss. It was soft and sweet like the one before. Pulling away ever so slightly he replied against her lips. "We are never ready for what fate gives us."

Buffy thought on his words for a moment as she looked up into his eyes. He was right. She could try. This love could destroy her. It could destroy him. It could keep him from his destiny or it could help bring it about. All her thoughts thoughts and fears though seemed to fade though to the force of her love for him. A force fresh and new. A force so strong it consumed her mind, body and soul. It took all strength from her and bent her to its will.

"Gerich meleth nîn." she replied softly before his lips came down on hers once again. The kiss was overwhelming from the first instant; full of love and lust and joy. It was unlike anything she had ever felt before. No kiss had ever matched it. Not with Angel, not with Riley and not with Spike. This kiss made her world spin and as her knees gave out under her she felt Aragorn's strong arm hold her up. (you have my love)

After several long moments they pulled apart. Buffy felt dizzy, light headed and suddenly so tired that she could feel her body giving out. It was as if the kiss had taken all the strength and energy from her body. Apparently Aragorn could feel her weakness because before she knew what was happening he had scooped her up into his arms and was carrying her through the garden in the direction of her room.

Buffy was losing the battle to stay awake as he walked the familiar path and within moments she was fast asleep; a faint smile on her lips.

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Aragorn looked down on Buffy's sweetly sleeping face as she pulled the blanket up over her. She loved him! The Valar were smiling down on him it seemed. Because for this woman he would ride into Mordor itself. Leaning in close he kissed her lips softly as to not wake her and then turned to leave the room. A faint whisper of "Sleep well my love" as he closed the door.

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Arwen watched as Estel left Buffy's room from her place in the garden. She had seen everything and knew exactly was the implications were.

If he could make Buffy happy then she wouldn't fight against it. Even if it meant that Buffy chose a mortal life.

But should be be anything less than completely devoted Arwen would see him suffer.

Her only worry was how everyone else would take this new development.

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