A/N: Some will notice that Buffy mentions a new horse besides Beriadan. Thats because he finally got too old and she needed to get a new one. The gwenyn got it for her about a year after her little blow up in Elrond's study to appease her the last little bit.

26. Blood Ties

When the moon on a cloud cast night
Hung above the tree tops' height
You sang me of some distant past
That made my heart beat strong and fast

You offered me an eagle's wing
That to the sun I might saor and sing
And if I heard the owl's cry
Into the forest I would fly
And in the darkness find you by

And so our love's not a simple thing
Nor our truths unwavering
Like the moon's pull on the tide
Our fingers touch our hearts collide
I'll be a moonsbreath by your sidestepping
-Lorenna McKennitt-Saiman Night

Lothlorien March 20/48 Coire 3000 III Age

Buffy sat before the mirror in her bedroom as Arwen brushed her hair dry thinking about the ceremony she was about to participate in. She was dressed in deep green and white. The gown itself was deceptively simple appearing. For the most part it was deep green with simple white trim at the neck with the upper sleeves being white as well. The long full lower sleeves though were also dark green and draped down to the floor. The colors of the dress had meaning of course. The green symbolizing eternity and family while the white symbolized that she was the child of her parents, purity and the binding of family.

Everything about this ceremony had meaning. The first part had taken place fifty years ago to the day and it had had many meanings, caused many repercussions and began a chain of events that this night would solidify forever.

By choosing to adopt her in the true elven manner they had committed themselves as well as herself to a binding of blood that after it was completed be as strong as if she had been born of them.

The first step of adoption was fairly simple in itself but had many connotations. Most were adopted as children and as such after fifty years when they were considered to be old enough to choose were given the opportunity to become seen as being born of their foster parents. Upon her adoption she had been given a new name. With the mixing of her blood with that of her foster parents she had begun the process of allowing her to access the gifts given to her foster parents. Among the Eldar she was considered one of their own even though she was born of man, though she was not named elf kind. Her foster parents had also named her Wilwarin of her new people saying that through her guidance one would come to lead the race of men and allow them to fade from this land and return to their own.

Today though things would be slightly more complicated. This was the completion of a life altering event and no matter how much she wanted to deny it Buffy couldn't help but feel nervous.

They were to swear the oaths of family again and renew their bond of blood. Though this time it was apparent that more things about herself would change. Elrond had skirted the issue but Buffy knew that something was going to happen to her. She couldn't actually become an elf like her parents but she had some assumptions that she was going to take on more elf like traits. Something she wasn't too sure about and not something she wanted to dwell on. Still, she would be considered their daughter as though she was born to them and that pleased her. She still loved and missed her mother and Dawn but she had committed herself to this world and knew that they would understand.

She wished Aragorn were here with her as well but both knew that it was a bad idea. Putting herself and Aragorn together within visual range of her adar was less than a smart idea. He did not approve in the least and she did not want this event to turn into a fight.

But she had support none the less. A adoption of this magnitude had not taken place before and the King of Mirkwood would have a representative. That his representative was his son and close friend of the one being adopted only made it better for her and Thranduil. Arwen, Elladan, and Elrohr had come to represent the rest of the family and show their approval of the adoption.

Buffy's contemplation was ended when Arwen placed Buffy's most intricate butterfly circlet on her brow. It was a gift from the first step of her adoption and the one that she had worn when she had first began to have feelings for Aragorn. Studded with green stones and with draping chains it was beautiful, and Buffy's favorite.

Nodding to Arwen that she was ready she stood and turned to the elleth. Arwen's face was full of such joy and happiness that Buffy felt herself caught up in it as well, some of her nervousness leaving her.

Smiling to one another they made their way to the door of Buffy's room to find three sets of eyes waiting on them. Buffy was to be escorted to the adoption ceremony by Legolas as he was the only one she felt deserved the honor who was not family and considered acceptable. The gwenyn were to escort their sister. All three were dressed in pale blue and white, the colors a sharp contrast to the gwenyn making them appear very dark of features and on Legolas making his eyes appear remarkably like those of Glorfindel.

Their procession was made in silence as though all could feel Buffy's nervousness. After several long moments of walking they entered the area that had been made ready for the ceremony. Taking a deep calmong breath Buffy allowed Legolas to lead her to where her foster parents stood waiting.

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It was almost over or at least it felt like it was to Buffy as she kept her eyes closed against the heat and rush of she wasn't sure what through her body. The first time they had cut their hands and bonded through blood this hadn't happened and Buffy was worried that something was wrong. She hoped that Narya wasn't causing this and that it was normal but at the moment she had no way of finding out.

After what seemed like ages the heat stopped and Buffy managed to open her eyes. She was still standing but unlike before she had closed her eyes her hands weren't being held by her adar and naneth. They both stood before her and Buffy realized that they had come to the end of the ceremony. All was left was one last step.

"Le no an-uir nin?" Her ada asked (Will you be mine?)

"Amintha" Buffy replied. She still felt funny but it was fading fast. (I will)

"Le no an-nir nin?" her naneth asked.

"Amintha" Buffy returned with a slight smile.

"Lle anta amin tu?" her naneth asked her. This was the last question of the ceremony and then for the rest of her life she was bound t/o the two of them. Their daughter in every way until death and beyond. (do you swear?)

"Amin car." Buffy replied. (I do)

Following the instructions she had been given before she turned and faced the crowd before her. Her parents behind her as she looked out on the gathering. Arwen had tears in her eyes while the gwenyn both looked as pleased as she had ever seen them. Legolas and Haldir both looked slightly stoic as usual but pleased but the sight that caught her attention was the man standing off to the side. For there was Gandalf with his staff smiling at her with a twinkle in his eyes.

Her naneth's voice rang in her ears as she spoke to the crowd.

"I present to you Lady Raina Wilwarin of the Golden Wood. Younger daughter of the Lord Celeborn and the Lady Galadriel of the Golden Wood. Wilwarin of her people and Dagnir of the shadow."

Buffy knew that was her cue. She took a step down from the raised area they stood on and walked to meet her friends and family. A great feast and party were to be held and Buffy had learned that she was to be receiving gifts from everyone. But right now she would only receive those from her family and close friends as the last of the festivities were made ready.

Smiling she exchanged hugs with everyone. Even Haldir and Gandalf, much to the Wizard's surprise. As they made their way to where they would give Buffy her gifts she felt almost as if in a daze. She felt as though she couldn't talk but apparently all had been expecting it as they walked in silence.

They arrived just outside of where the festivities were to be taking place and Buffy saw that they had set up a seperate table for the gifts that she was to receive first.

The first gifts were from her naneth and adar. The first was a vest of mithril to be worn under her over tunic. The second a new Lorien bow. The third was a sword. The sword she had always used before had been one of the many ones that were kept for those who patrolled the borders but this one was made specifically for her. Designed like all elven blades it was curved and razor sharp. The handle was of dark brown with a gold butterfly etched around the entirety of the handle. Thin vine patterens in gold glowed down the silver blade and it held an inscription along it as well. On one side it read 'Ruin' which meant flame and on the other 'Namo nan goth"' the translation of which was judge of the enemy. And the fourth a small book of elven poetry.

From Arwen she received a brush and mirror of silver with vines and butterflys etched on the back as well as two new cloaks. One for travel as a Ranger and the other as a lady.

From the gwenyn she received a new saddle and pack. Both of brown leather and made to suit her best.

From Legolas she received a Mirkwood quiver, it was thin and long and built to accommodate both her bow and her long knives on her back. It also had etchings of butterfly on the back along with vines and flowers. It should have made the quiver look very feminine but it did not as it was understated and very subtle. Thranduil sent her a pair of new leather bracers that were also detailed to match her bow. Buffy had to smile at that. The two of them thought very much alike and both knew that she was more warrior than lady at heart.

Gandalf didn't bring her a gift but no one expected him to. Not even Buffy. After thank yous were given as well as many hugs and kisses the party began.

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Caras Galadhon Lothlorien April 28/31 Tuile 3000 III Age

Buffy watched as Legolas and Arwen disappeared together for the third time in a week. The two were spending more and more time together and Buffy couldn't have been happier. She wasn't sure yet what stage in the 'in into you' game they were at but they were definitely were. They just had to let the other know.

Buffy hoped they'd get on with the smoochies, the idea of her two closest friends together appealed to her greatly. And on a plus side Legolas was definitely someone that Buffy would trust Arwen with. He was one of the best elves she'd ever met and considering how great most elves were that was saying something.

Legolas was strong, patient, understanding, caring, funny, loyal, entertaining, sweet, very occasionally goofy, good looking (but then she hadn't met an ugly elf yet) and above all else he had a great heart. Oh he had his faults in her opinion, his captain obvious moments annoyed her occasionally and he had a habit of picking on her but she did the same to him so it was all in good fun. He was a little too serious for her most of the time but she blamed that on the 'I'm a Prince' thing. And most elves seemed to have a little bit of a stick up their butts occasionally, she blamed it on their being so old.

But if Arwen wanted him and if he wanted Arwen Buffy would encourage it and the Valar help anyone who got in the way.

Buffy sighed and turned away from the soght of them retreating into the trees. Moving from her balcony into here room she went over to her full length mirror and stared at her reflection as she tried yet again to wrap her mind around the changes that had occurred during the final steps of her adoption.

The burning had not been anything bad per say as it turned out. But it decinately had done something to her. With her new status as being more than a foster daughter she had gained some very elven side effects. She was taller now, though not much. Buffy guessed that she had grown about two inches which made her a grand total of five foot five now, still very short by elven standards but it did make her feel slightly less like a midget around every one else. Her skin had gone from being perpetually golden from her time in the sun to being the same pale white of every elf she had ever met and her hair had gotten slightly lighter. The hair change did bother her at all, it was actually pretty to her but the skin thing bothered her. She'd never get a tan again and it annoyed her to no end. Legolas and the gwenyn found her complaints about it funny and after a month now of whacking on the arms for laughing at her when she said something she'd finally given up.

The rather big things though to her was the slight glow she had now and the fact that her ears at just the faintest bit of a point to them. The glow was nothing as strong as any elf gave off but Buffy could notice it and she was sure every one else could as well. The ears though she doubted that anyone would even notice unless they were actually looking for it and pretty intently at that. The lack of full pointy ears she was grateful for though, trying to blend in was enough of a problem when she traveled, trying to do it with pointy ears would be impossible.

Buffy sighed as she turned from her mirror and headed for her bed. It was only middle afternoon but she was tired, the night before the gwenyn had had her up all night testing her new tolerance of alcohol. It was higher than it had been before but she could still get drunk, apparently unlike her two trouble making drinking buddies.

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Caras Galadhon Lothlorien June 4/14 Laire 3000 III Age

Buffy watched Arwen carefully as she sat on the other side of the table as they played their game. It was basically Arda's version of chess and stragely enough Buffy had gotten pretty good at it after fifty years. Arwen still beat her three out of five times but at least Buffy wasn't as bad as she used to be.

Looking down at the board she decided it was finally time to get Arwen to talk about what was going on with her and Legolas. He had been gone for less than three days and even though no one else could tell, she saw the look on her friends face that spoke volumes on how much he missed his presence already. Knowing that Arwen was the queen of acting innocent when she wanted to unless you managed to shock her Buffy decided to jump right in with very Anya like tactics.

"So just how good in bed is Legolas?"

Arwen's head snapped up and Buffy leveled her gaze at Arwen's shocked and stunned one.

"I do not understand." she stammered. Buffy had to bite back a smile.

"I'm not stupid Arwen. I saw you two. You looked just like Aragorn and I did when we first started off. You care about Legolas and not in a 'he's my friend or I respect him' sort of way. And he cares about you. He has for years now. So I'm asking, since I know you care about him and he care about you, did you two make with the smoochies or have you two already managed to fall into bed together?"

Buffy had to use every ounce of self control he had as Arwen gaped at her like a fish for a moment before clicking her jaw shut as a blush crept up her pale cheeks. Buffy had never seen an elf blush that red and she knew that she'd just accomplished something that the gwenyn never could. The idea of their precious baby sister with any male was not a subject the two of them wanted to think about in too much detail.

When Arwen didn't answer Buffy just looked at her again and suppressed a laugh. The elleth looked like she had just got caught in the act. Having pity on her she decided to try antoher tactic.

"Ok Arwen so I know something is up with you two but I don't want details. To much information about my two best friends is just wrong. So here it is I ask you a question and you say yes or no. It means no details and if you want to tell me more later you can. Ok?"

Arwen nodded faintly at her and Buffy smiled.

"So are you in love with Legolas?"

"Yes"

"Have you told him that?"

"Yes"

"Has he told you he loves you?"

"Yes."

"Have you two kissed yet?"

"Yes."

"Have you done anything else?"

"No." came her emphatic reply.

"Do either of you plan on telling anyone else yet?"

"No"

"Would this be because you both know that both your adars would have you married in a heartbeat?"

"Yes."

"So you do both love each other but you both want to take the time to make sure that its real and going to last?"

"Yes."

"Good for you. I have three requests though."

"What are those?"

"One you never and I mean never share sex details with me. Two you let me tell your brothers that their baby sister is in love with one of their closest friends. And three, I get to be there when you tell Aragorn. I want to see how he reacts when he finds out his foster sister is marrying his best friend."

Arwen smiled at her and nodded. Then Buffy realized that she'd forgotten one last thing.

"And I get to be a bridesmaid. Which means I get to throw you an hen's night before the wedding."

Arwen laughed at that. Years ago Buffy had explained how married worked where she was from. The idea of bridesmaids Arwen liked but the hen's night seemed more than improper to her. Her laughter kept going though when she heard Buffy mumble.

"I wonder if we could get Haldir to strip?"

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Caras Galadhon Lothlorien November 6/ 40 Quelle 3003 III Age

Buffy was bored out of her mind and had been for the better part the three months since Arwen had left to return to Imladris. In the last fifteen yeare she'd only spent four actually out in the wilds letting the slayer inside of her be fully appeased. And unlike in Imladris she didn't have Glor or the gwenyn to keep her from going crazy. Haldir would spar with her some but for the most part he was the only one who could keep up with her and her very unelven fighting style.

She wanted to go out and do something for once and she knew without a doubt that her naneth knew it. She'd been giving Buffy a look that spoke volumes for the last two days and Buffy knew that when she finally made her way up the last of the stairs and into her parent's talan to tell them she was leaving that her naneth wouldn't be the least bit surprised.

Stepping through the doors she was instantly greeted by the sight she had been expecting. There sat her naneth in a divan along the wall reading as here adar sat behind his desk as usual writing away. Both looked up when she entered but it was her naneth who spoke first.

"You have finally decided to leave for Mirkwood then?"

Buffy had to smile. The creepy factor had been blown away years ago but she still found it funny that her naneth always knew more than everyone else seemed to.

"Yeah I have. I think they could use my help for a bit and I personally want to finally get a chance to test out all of my new goodies. And well Indnaur is a bit less patient than Beridian was. He really doesn't like being cooped up for long periods of time."

"We understand. When will you go?" her naneth asked with a warm smile.

"Tomorrow I think. I'm going to go pack now. I will see you both at dinner." Buffy replied and turned to leave. She stopped at the door though and turned halfway to look at her parents.

"You both know I love you right?"

They both replied yes with smiles that said far more than words ever could. Buffy left her adar's study with a smile on her face as she headed to her room to pack She was gonna give Legolas hell about his thing with Arwen and she was gonna get to kill orcs with her new sword. Her trip was just looking like more and more fun.

Maybe if she told him at just the right time she could get him to walk into a wall.

Or better yet challenge him in archery and then bring it up during his shot.

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