24. Nobody Expects The...

"A tool wielded in ignorance can become the most dangerous of weapons."
-Swordmaster Jav Barri-Dune Series

Imladris (Rivendell) March 17/45 Coire 2988 III Age

"You know we are going to get into so much trouble for this right/" Buffy commented to her two fellow coconspiritors as she eased the bookcase into its place on the roof.

"Possibly, but it will be well worth it." Elladan as he and his twin carefully sat down Erestor's desk.

"And you have not been here in many years to help us. Consider this a manner of making up for lost time, tithen wilwarin." Elrohir said as he brushed his hads off. They now had the entirety of Erestor's office on the roof and had only to arrange a few small items for it to look exactly like inside. It was the middle of the night and the three worked quietly together on the finishing touches. (little butterfly)

As Buffy arranged the books in the shelf she still couldn't figure out how she had let the two troublemakers convince her to help with this little stunt. Well in all honesty she did know how they had she just didn't want it admit it to them. If they ever knew that all they had to do was look at her with big puppy dog eyes and pout a little like Dawn used to then she was up a creek without the proverbial paddle. They already had too much sway over her for their own good. It didn't help that she actually felt food doing this even though she knew without a doubt that she was gonna be yelled at. After so many years without the two of them around she missed pulling these kind of stunts. Oh she got into plenty of trouble while in Mirkwood with Legolas, after all he was good friends with the gwenyn for a reason, but it wasn't the same as getting into trouble with the two who had helped her feel young again after so many years on the hellmouth. With them she could revert back to being a teenager mentality even at her age without a second thought. If she actually admitted it to herself they were the two who had kept her from becoming as uptight as Elrond seemed sometimes. Of course she knew that Elrond had a bit of a sarcastic and mischievous as well but it didn't come out as much as it should. Of course with sons such as his he had to keep a sense of humor or he would have killed them both hundreds of years ago.

As soon as the three of them had finished arranging the small details they all gathered at one end of the desk by silent agreement. Buffy started up at the stars and smiled. It was good to be back with them again after so long. They both joined her in the silence and after several long moments it was broken.

"Will you not tell us what happened before your time in Rohan?" Elrohir asked.

Buffy had been waiting for this question for a while and knew that she couldn't answer it. Letting out a sigh she replied. "You know I can't. One day you will both know but until then you will just have to patient."

"Be iest lîn thel neth. Be iest lîn." Elladan replied. It was Elrohir that caught her off guard though.

"Mankoi lle uma tanya?" he asked. (why did you do that?)

Buffy looked over at him in confusion. What had she done?

"Why did you leave him without a word?" he clarified

Buffy sighed. She should have expected it. The two of them could manipulate almost anything if they wanted to.

"There wasn't any time. I had moments to make my decision. I didn't want to leave him like that but I didn't have a choice. I don't regret it." she said in her defense although she was fairly certain she'd regret taking Narya eventually.

They both mulled over her answer for a moment before Elladan spoke. "You have given each other your hearts. We respect that though we do not like it. And should he harm you we will make him suffer."

Buffy couldn't help herself she busted out laughing. In that moment he had reminded her so much of Willow and her shovel that she just couldn't stand it. Buffy bent herself over as the tears began to fall as she laughed. The gwenyn she knew were probably looking at her like she was insane but she didn't care. She needed the laugh and it was good.

After several moments Buffy straightened herlf back up but couldn't help but still laugh softly.

"And what is so funny?"

"You two, You just reminded me of something that was a running joke back home. If one of the Scoobies wanted to threaten one of the other members potential significant others we would just threaten to bring a shovel with us."

"And why is that funny?"

"Because the joke was that we could kill them with the shovel and then use it to bury them."

"Ahhh" was the coursed reply. Buffy decided that they needed to go. Her laughter had probably woken someone and they really didn't need to be caught in the middle of the night with this prank. Elrond tired was one thing Buffy really didn't like having to cope with.

After making their way down they separated and headed to their rooms. They would need to be up early in order to see the aftermath of their little stunt.

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Imladris (Rivendell) March 18/46 Coire 2988 III Age

Elrond gazed across his desk at his three troublemakers and had to fight back a smile. They didn't look repentant or guilty in the least, especially Buffy. She in fact had a gleam in her eyes that hadn't been there since her return to Rivendell over a month ago. It seemed that his had finally gotten to her and despite the now very enraged Erestor he was glad. But he couldn't show it, he was still lord here and the three of them had pulled a prank that had already caused a great amount of trouble today, despite how ingenious it was.

Taking a deep breath he chose his words carefully. "The three of you have caused a great deal of mischief today and shall be put to task for it. You will return everything you removed back to its original place and you will then assist Erestor in his duties for the remainder of the day without causing any further trouble. Am I understood?"

All three nodded and turned to leave, assuming that he had said all that he intended to. Before they could reach the doors however he spoke again.

"If I learn from Erestor that any of you have caused any further problems today all three of you will be assisting him for a month."

The three didn't look back as the words were spoken and within a moment all three were out of the door.

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Imladris (Rivendell) March 19/47 Coire 2988 III Age

Buffy was laying on a large boulder near one of Rivendell's many waterfalls thinking about her adar's decree when she heard the familiar tread of Glorfindel approaching. Keeping her eyes closed she smiled into the golden spring sun. She knew why he was here now, despite keeping up a constant battle of wills and skills they were friends. In fact over the years Buffy had found him to be someone she could talk to about things that others didn't understand as well. He had a perspective about death that while it was different was similar in its own fashion to hers. He also was one of her few good friends outside her family, a thing that gave him perspective that the others lacked.

"Quel andume dagnir." he spoke in greeting. He never called her Wilwarin like the others did. Being called Wilwarin outside of the Golden Wood still felt slightly strange to Buffy. In Mirkwood they had never really referred to her by the name and title given to her by her parents but here in Rivendell her family was the Lord of Imladris and his children and as such she was treated the same as she did in the realm of her parents. But Glorfindel never did, he knew who and what she was and still in his eyes she was dagnir first and Wilwarin after unlike other who switched those roles. (Good afternoon slayer)

"Quel andume." Buffy replied with a smile as he sat down next to her on the large boulder. Compared to her he was huge but there was more than enough room for both of them.

"What's up Glor? And don't try and hide it. You've had something face ever since I came back." Buffy asked as she opened her eyes and looked over at him.

"I wish to discuss what I have heard of your and Estel. Have you given him your heart?"

Buffy sighed and sat up trust Glor to not beat around the bush with her. "I love him but it's complicated. If I chose him I have to give up my family. I don't know if I can live through losing my family again."

"It is a difficult choice. One that none can make for you. Chose wisely my friend, I would not see you gone before your time." He replied with a smile. Buffy smiled a bit. He just wasn't the type to pry further than was necessary in his mind. And he never really gave advice either. He let her make her own decidions and respected them. Buffy leaned over and wrapped her arms around the Lord of the Golden Flower in a hug. He stiffened for a moment and then relaxed. Buffy giggled a little before commenting.

"Ya know Glor you're gonna have to get used to that if you keep deciding to be anything other than a pain in my ass."

And with that she let go of him and hopped off the boulder. It was getting close to dinner time and she had no doubt that if she were late Arwen would send someone out hunting for her.

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Imladris (Rivendell) March 20/48 Coire 2988 III Age

Buffy had been thinking about Narya as much as she had been thinking about Aragorn over the last month. As far as she could tell the ring could heal and that led her to only one person that both knew and could help her learn. Which had led here here, to the doors to Elrond's study.

Buffy took a deep breath to calm herself before she raised her hand and knocked.

"Enter" came Elrond's voice from the other side. Buffy squared her shoulders and opened the door, she moved inside and closed the door behind her. Elrond sat at his desk looking over some papers, he didn't bother to look up as Buffy made her way across the room and sat in one of the large chairs. Buffy had barely sat when Elrond's piercing gaze leveled itself on her as he placed the papers on the desk.

"Yes?" He asked simply. Buffy knew she had to do this but she was fairly sure she wasn't going to like it. Taking another steadying breath she replied.

"I need your help. I need to learn."

Elrond leaned back in his chair and studied her for a moment before replying. "What do you wish to learn pen neth?" (young one)

Knowing she was gonna have to bite the bullet Buffy decided to dive right in. "I need to learn about healing. Narya, it saved the child even though it had stopped breathing. I need to know how to stop thing like Elfh...I need to make sure I can handle any situation I find myself in. I need other help as well. According to what I was told the only reason I can wear this thing is because I now have elven blood. I need to learn what that means. I need to know everything and I mean everything you can teach me."

With every word she spoke Elrond's eyebrows rose further and further into his forehead. Buffy almost wanted to smile at the sight. Apparently he hadn't been expecting her to ask for help. Not that she could blame him, he had had to force her to learn basic field healing and she'd fought the entire way.

Elrond's brows came down and he studied her for a moment, normally it would have made her snap at him but not today. She waited for him to speak and after a few moments under his gaze he spoke.

"I will teach you though it will not be easy."

"I never expected it to be." Buffy replied

"What will you tell my children?" he asked

"I think it'd be obvious. They won't be surprised about healer training and the other I can say that its time for me to really learn everything about who I am now." Buffy stated.

"I see. And when do you wish to begin?" he queried as Buffy stood and began to make her way to the door.

"Tomorrow." Buffy replied as she slipped through the door. Now that she had made the decision she knew that she needed to get started.

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It was later that afternoon when Arwen managed to corner her. Buffy had been expecting it actually, now that she'd managed to get into trouble with the gwenyn Arwen evidentially thought she was alright enough to interrogate.

Buffy looked up from her book expectantly as the elleth took a seat across from her in the large window seat. After a moment Arwen had apparently decided on her choice of words.

"Do you love him?:

"Yes." Buffy replied simply

"Will you give up your immortal life for him?" Arwen queried. Buffy knew Arwen didn't want to lose her like she had her naneth so she decided to deflect the question.

"Right now its a moot point. I have to make sure he gets the throne and my adar has made it clear that he won't approve unless he does get the throne. Its complicated. He will have the throne one way or another and then we have ada's approval but ada also knows that the idea of being lady much less a queen is more than I can handle. I'm not meant for a cage Arwen and that's what it would be. I may be Lady Raina Wilwarin daughter of the Lord and Lady of the Wood now but I was something else before that. I was and still am Buffy Summers the vampire slayer. All the titles and new names are who are am but they aren't what I am. I know the difference. And that isn't even half of the problem. There is something bad coming. I don't know when or where but until I do and we've beaten it I can't give up my immortality. I made a deal when I came here and I can't go back on it, even for love."

Arwen sat and mulled over what she had said as Buffy stared out the window into the darkening sky. After what felt like forever to Buffy she spoke.

"I have seen his love for you, it will not fade. Do not place your worries in the future yet. It will all pass when the time comes, until that day all you can do is make ready for it and love him as you are able."

Buffy certainly hadn't been expecting that reply at all. Arwen had just pulled the elf version of 'cross that bridge when you get to it'. Buffy couldn't help herself she laughed, getting a strange look from her closest friend. Trying to reign in her laughter she spoke.

"We have a saying where I come from that you just basically covered. It goes: We'll cross that bridge when we get to it."

Arwen smiled a little at her before replying. "It seems that the people you were born to were very succinct in their wisdom."

"Yeah you could say that." Buffy replied still smiling.

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Imladris (Rivendell) July 25/66 Laire 2988 III Age

Buffy was ready to kill something as she stomped into the training field and it seemed that every one knew it. She'd been training and learning from Elrond for four months and he was making her insane. She couldn't back out and she couldn't kill him so she was stuck taking her anger out on anyone who was stupid enough to want to practice with her. It didn't help that the gwenyn were gone into the wilds for another month either, without them she had no one to help keep her entertained. Glor and Arwen both did their best to keep her from ripping off someone's arms and beating them with it but there really was only so much the two of them could do.

Buffy had decided about a week in that Elrond was evil. She'd already asked Arwen multiple times is she could slay him but the elleth wouldn't let her.

Elrond had also made it clear that there was no definate end date for her torture. He wasn't going to let her free until she learned everything he thought she needed to know. Which just sucked in her opinion.

Pulling an arrow from her quiver she knocked it and let it go. If she couldn't actually slay Elrond then she could use his image to help her improve with a bow. Because one day so help her she was going to figure beat Legolas.

Buffy always loved strategic motivation.

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