19. Passion

"Passion. It lies in all of us"
-Angelus

Caras Galadhon Lothlorien May 22/ 55 Tuile 2976 III Age

She was there again. With her copy. Only this time it felt different; stronger. As though who or what ever she was had taken all of her strength.

"Very good. You are learning. I did take your strength. But only for a moment." if said with a sad smile.

"Why?"

"To bring you here. To warn you of my coming. To use your strength to guide myself to you."

"Why me?" Buffy asked confused.

"You are the only one who is worthy. You have the strength. You have the heart. You can learn. And you do not seek the power that I bring.. Only one who does not desire true power should wield it."

"But tha..."

"Shhh. It is time to wake. I will come soon enough. You will feel my arrival. Do not hesitate. More hangs in the balance than yourself."

And with those words Buffy's eyes snapped open. She immediately closed her eyes against the bright light.

"Raina, nin wilwarin, how do you feel?" came her adar's concerned voice. (my butterfly)

Turning her head twards where his voice had come from she opened her eyes slowly against the light to find her adar sitting on the bed looking over her with concern in his eyes. Concern which made no sense.

"Ada why are you looking at me like that?"

"You have been asleep for five days nin wilwarin. We could not find a cause and feared tha.."

"I was just asleep ada. My dreams were important. Because something is coming. coming to find me. Something powerful and I can't run from it." Buffy interrupted. At the look on her adar's face she realized that he knew as well. "What is it ada? You know which means nana knows."

"We do not know but it seems that your destiny is becoming greater than we ever knew." he looked at her expectantly for her reaction.

"Then I will face it ada. I will not run." Buffy replied as she sat up in bed. She was hungry and a little stiff from laying down for so long but other than that she felt fine. "Ada could you sen..." Buffy was interrupted by the door to her room opening as Arwen, Aragorn and Legolas appeared in the doorway. Aragorn stopped short at apparently seeing her awake but Arwen make no such stop. She was across the room in moments; standing next to her daeradar who had risen from Buffy's bed. She was smiling broadly down at Buffy; whose gaze was ripped from her family as a pair of strong arms latched on to her.

"Oh for Eru's sak..." Buffy comment to Aragorn's sudden stranglehold was cut off by his lips coming down on hers in a fierce and brief kiss.

"Do not ever frighten me in that manner again." He admonished harshly. But before Buffy could reply the was a coughing sound that caused her to turn her head and look at the three others standing in the room.

Legolas looked absolutely shocked, Arwen slightly Amused but calm and her adar looked as though he wanted to haul Aragorn over to one of the windows and throw him out of it to hit the ground a very great distance below.

Pulling away from Aragorn she sighed. "Is there any chance we can pretend you didn't see that?"

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Buffy sat in her room waiting for Arwen to come up with food for her thinking about all that had happened in the last hour.

Her adar had ordered everyone out of the room and proceeded to have a veritable fit at her. She'd never seen him so upset with her and it wigged her out. For about five minutes and then her anger had come out.

They fought for nearly half an hour before her naneth had entered the room and calmed the two of them down. Buffy figured that Arwen knew that they were going to rip into each other and gone to get the one person she knew could diffuse the situation between father and daughter.

Her naneth didn't seem overly happy about the entire situation but she definitely handled it better than her adar. After nearly half an hour of discussion in more calm tones both of her parents had left. Now Buffy was sitting alone pondering over everything they had said.

She did not get far in her thoughts when Arwen opened the door without knocking. They had stopped knocking on each other's doors many years ago and so it didn't bother Buffy in the least. She carried nothing herself but was followed in by three serving women who deposited large amount of food and drink quickly and left; closing the door behind them.

"Are you going to yell at me too?" Buffy asked as she looked up from the table at one of her two best friends.

"No, thel neth, I will not. But we would like to discuss it with you." (little sister)

"Us?" Buffy asked as the door behind Arwen opened and Legolas slipped in. "Ahh. Us. Fine. Come sit down and we will 'discuss' it while we eat."

They both complied and sat down with her at the table.Now Buffy knew why they had given her so much food. Munching on a piece of bread she looked a them both before swallowing and asked. "Well?"

"Do you love him?" came Arwen's softly spoken question.

Buffy hesitated for a moment before answering "Yeah I do."

"And will you give up your immortal life?"

"It isn't likely that I'll have to make that choice." Buffy stated flatly.

"Why not?" Legolas asked looking slightly confused.

Buffy hesitated and looked over at Arwen for help. "You need to tell him everything. He is your friend as I am."

Buffy sighed and looked at the two of them. They were her best friends and Legolas deserved to know what Arwen already did. She could never tell everything to Aragorn because Whistler had forbidden it but her friends had a right to understand.

"I hope you like long stories Legolas cause we're gonna be here for a while."

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Aragorn stood in front of the Lord of the Golden Wood and waited for his tirade to begin. After several long moments though Celeborn turned to face him .

"Do you love my daughter?" Celeborn asked, his eyes boring into Aragorn.

"I love her with everything that I am."

"Therin lies the problem Elessar. You are unworthy of her." he replied.

"She loves me as well."

"Yes she does. And it is because of that love that you will hurt her. My daughter is much above you and if you wish to marry her you must be her equal. She shall wed none but a king."

"And of her immortality?" Aragorn found himself asking.

"My daughter is a warrior. She has been since you were but a child. The darkness approaches and she will battle against it. She may lose her life to that battle; that I have always known. If you wish to have her Heir of Isildur, you must face your destiny as she does." Celeborn replied and turned from him. Dismissing him from his presence.

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It was the middle of the night when Aragorn heard the approach of Legolas. Apparently the elf had been closeted with Buffy and Arwen since during his encounter with Lord Celeborn.

Legolas stopped several feet away and stood in apparent contemplation for a moment before speaking.

"She has given you her heart. Care for it well old friend. For if you do not our friendship will have little value to me ere I cause you harm."

Aragorn was slightly taken aback by Legolas' words. They were soft but there as an edge of steel behind them. He was serious.

"Although I fear that I will be but one of many to harm you should you cause her pain. Apparently Lord Elrond, Haldir and the valiant Glorfindel are all protective of her. And of course you will have to deal with the the gwenyn and Arwen who count her as sister." Legolas continued smiling.

Aragorn groaned. His own adar and brothers would be bad enough but add the others and his chances of survival went down dramatically.

"Ai! I nearly forgot. My adar as well. He's very fond of the tithen dagnir." Legolas sat down next to him on the bench and chuckled slightly.

"Do not look so afraid melon nin. It is more likely she will harm you ere we get the opportunity." (my friend)

"That is hardly a comforting sentiment."

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Caras Galadhon Lothlorien June 20/ 30 Laire 2976 III Age

Buffy lay back in her bath going over the last month in her mind. After the initial chaos things had settled down into a comfortable pattern. She, Aragorn, Arwen and Legolas still went riding every day and she still spent time going over the 'Fairy Tales' book with Aragorn in the afternoons but now the time with him alone was spent a bit differently. They would cuddle together amongst the roots of one of the mallorn trees and kiss even as they went over the stories. Her adar was still unhappy about the entire situation but kept his peace and did his best to make her happy. She had spoken with her adar and naneth at length about her dreams and what they meant and the tree knew her time home was growing short. They accepted it and it seemed that neither feared it greatly. So the three of them spent all the time they could together.

And tonight was to be another happy evening. It was Midsummer's Eve and here is was a time of celebration. A time where the entirety of Lothlorien dressed in their finest and enjoyed the evening to the fullest. And Buffy planned to do just that. Arwen was already ready for the festivities and was in Buffy's room to help her as soon as she got out of the tub.

Sighing Buffy got out and dried herself. It was a happy sigh because the evening was filled with the promise of a wonderful night. Padding into her bedroom she was greeted my the sight of Arwen holding out a beautiful light purple and gold gown for her. Buffy obligingly put up her arms for the taller elleth to put the gown on her and make the adjustments. After several moments Arwen stepped away and Buffy moved to her dressing table to that the elleth could fix her hair. Arwen braided back three small braids on either side of her hair and pulled them each back together, effectively holding back the rest of her hair. On her brow she placed a circlet of gold; the butterfly in the center sitting in the middle of Buffy's brow. The center of the butterfly held a purple stone that matched her dress perfectly. Around Buffy's neck Arwen placed the matching gold necklace. It was wide with an intricate scrolling pattern and a large purple stone in the center that matched the one in her circlet. Acknowledging that she was done by backing away Arwen waited for Buffy to stand and move to her full length mirror.

Buffy was amazed at how she looked. The gown was beyond beautiful on her. It was cut simply at the bodice, low and rounded, barely covering her shoulders. The bottom of the gown was simple and unadorned but fell in slight folds from the amount of fabric. The sleeves however were the most beautiful part of the dress. From the shoulder they were split in half and midway down her upper arm the sides were tied together with golden ribbons. While the outside of the sleeves were purple the very visible undersides were gold. The effect was breathtaking and coupled with Buffy's golden hair and her accessories; made her look almost other wordily. The dress was cut exactly the same as Arwen's though in different colors.

Smiling happily at Arwen she saw the elleth's pride and knew that Arwen knew of her gratitude. Extending an arm to her best friend they made their way down the long staircase to the forest floor were the celebrations were to be held.

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Aragorn was standing with Legolas watching the festivities go on around them. The wine was flowing, the music was happy and many were dancing merrily. Everyone seemed to be in high spirits and so the midsummer's eve was off to an amazing start.

A start that only became more amazing to Aragorn as the crowds parted and reveled a sight that was more breathtaking than he had ever beheld. Buffy and Arwen strolled among the throng looking more ethereal than any he had ever beheld. Their dresses were identical aside from color and both shone brightly with a light that seemed other worldly.

Without thought it seemed he moved to the woman he loved, only faintly aware that Legolas was moving beside him as they made their way amongst the joyful elves.

Bowing before the woman that held his heart he took her hand and kissed it. Looking up to see the laughter in her eyes.

"My lady you are a vision."

She laughed then with Arwen who turned her head to Buffy and spoke "I was right. Now you owe me one favor."

"Darn. Fine. Just nothing that will get me into too much trouble ok."

"Of course not." Arwen replied with a happy smile.

The ladies turned from each other then and in unison spoke. "Time to dance."

Arwen took Legolas' hand as Buffy took his own and together they led the men to where much merry dancing was taking place.

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"Every man has his own destiny: the only imperative is to follow it, to accept it, no matter where it leads him."
-Henry Miller

Buffy knew she was dreaming because in front of her stood her copy again. She was dressed as she always was in silver and white with the circlet and ring her only jewelry.

"The time has come. I am here. You must wake tithen wilwarin and face your destiny." (little butterfly)

With those words Buffy's eyes snapped open. She knew where she was and she was loathe to leave. But she knew she had to; so moving as to not wake Aragorn she climbed out of bed and dressed. Slipping out of his room with one last glance as his sleeping form.

It would not be dawn for a few hours and yet even in the dark Buffy knew the way the her parent's talan. Straightening herself up as she made her way she did not even bother to knock before entering.

Before her sat her parents and Gandalf.with expectant looks on their faces. Taking a deep breath to settle herself she turned to the wizard.

"You've come because it told you to didn't it? It has claimed me."

Gandalf looked only faintly surprised at her words. "Yes child it has. And now you must come with me to learn to use it in safety."

"When do we leave?" Buffy asked already knowing the answer and dreading it.

"Within the hour. No one save your parents must know why you have left. To bear this burden is to be hunted."

"I know. I will meet the three of you at the stables in half an hour." Buffy replied. She didn't want this burden but destiny apparently had new plans for her and she better than anyone knew better than to try and avoid destiny. Even if it meant leaving the man she loved.

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