30. Fear Is How I Fall

"Human weakness... never goes away."
-Faith-BTVS

Imladris (Rivendell) December 25/ 35 Hrive 3018 III Age

The gardens were quiet despite the hushed activity that occurred within the walls of the Last Homely House. It was more than two hours before the fellowship was to begin assembling for their departure, a time that for the rest would be spent in preparation. For himself that was not the case. He sat. in the early hours of morning under a sky that was beginning to lighten slowly, smoking his pipe and considering the future.

His thoughts strayed over the problem of Buffy. She was elf kind, it did not matter that she was born of the race of men. She belonged among her people and her people were leaving. But that was only the first problem. Before coming to Middle Earth she had bound herself to fight the shadow, a choice that could end her life.

He loved her for everything that she was and a part of him knew that not fighting against the shadow even were she not bound would be against everything that she was. He would protect her and stand by her in this quest and then he would set her free to be with her people.

So lost in his thoughts was he that he did not notice Arwen approaching until she stood only a few paces before him.

"Estel, I must speak with you ere you depart." she told him.

"As you wish." he acquiesced.

"It is about lle Wilwarin."

"She has never been mine." he told his foster sister.

"The light of the Wilwarin does not wax and wane, Estel. She has been yours for nigh on forty two years of men. The moment she gave you her heart she become yours." her voice was soft but full of assurance.

"I am mortal and she is elf kind. It was a dream." he told her, hoping she could understand his plight.

"It was not a dream. She was mortal once and has lost her life twice. She does not fear death, be it for the sake of us all or for the sake of love for she has died for both. It is her choice, not yours. Remember that Estel and care well for her." she told him before she turned and departed, her purple gown shimmering in the remainder of the starlight.

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Buffy knew it was not yet dawn as she came awake to the sounds of water being poured into her bath. Opening her eyes she took in the sight before her. Arwen was moving about the room lighting candles and with each one the room became less dark. Taking a deep breath she moved the blanket off herself and sat up on the side of the bed. The stars were fading out side and she knew that dawn would be approaching in less than an hour and a half. Which meant that she did not have time to linger if she was to be ready in time and to make it to the hall for breakfast. Turning to her with a smile Arwen nodded her head and Buffy took her lead, getting up and making her way to her bath.

After stripping down she eased herself into the hot water and let her head submerge. Enjoying the feeling and knowing that she wasn't going to get another hot bath or any bath for that matter for a very long time, she had the urge to just soak. But knowing that she didn't have time she sat back up and began to wash her hair.

After another fifteen minutes she was finished and making her way back into her bedroom where she had laid out her gear the day before.

She began with her now well worn leather pants and white under tunic, most did not wear two long sleeved tunics but after years of experience with ruining clothes she had learned the value of two. She followed with her mithril vest and dark green tunic. Pulling her hair out from oner its high elven collar she let it fall wetly down her back. She followed with her brown leather vest and her elven boots before turning to where Arwen stood waiting to fix her hair.

The elleth opted to braid the sides of her hair just above her ears going back She then gathered the remainder of Buffy waist length hair into a ponytail and secured it so tightly that Buffy felt it pull back on the skin of her face. She then took the hair and proceeded to braid it into a fishtail and secured the end. Arwen then took the two small braids and wrapped them around the base of the ponytail and secured them tightly. Buffy was fairly certain that no patter what she came up against in the next month her hair was not going to move an inch, at least it shouldn't with how tight Arwen had secured and braided everything.

"I have finished. Now, food should arrive in a moment so that you may make ready more easily." Arwen told her.

"Thanks Arwen. You've always been better at this older sister stuff than I ever was." Buffy told her as a knock was heard at the door and two elleths came in with a platter and drinks.

"I am sure you were a wonderful older sister." Arwen assured her as the elleths set up table.

"I seriously doubt it. For the big stuff I was ok but the little things like what you do I was crappy. But it doesn't matter because here I am the little sister so I can be spoiled because I'm about to go spent months with a bunch of guys." Buffy informed her and took a bite of her food.

"This is true." Arwen agreed as she poured water into their goblets.

"So, have you told Legolas goodbye yet?" Buffy asked before taking a bite of bread.

"Yes. Though I believe he is still upset with you for the way you revealed our betrothal."

"If I remember correctly I was told by both of you that I could tell the gwenyn. And I just happen to choose a time when Aragorn and Glorfindel were there too. Its not my fault that those four hang out a lot." Buffy replied defending herself.

"I see your point but he is still upset."

"I'll bet he is. Speaking of upset, how did Elrond take it?" Buffy asked after taking a drink of water.

"I do not wish to burden you with his opinion." Arwen told her evasively.

"That bad huh? Arwen trust me, I understand. He's just worried that Legolas may never come back and then you will fade from the grief. But I promise you that he's coming back. Not only do you love him but he just happens to be one of my best friends. So don't worry. I'll get Prince prissy back and then you can have your wedding and I can wear a pretty dress and dance." Buffy told her with a smile.

"I hope you are right." Arwen said softly.

"Of course I'm right. We're going on a quest to destroy a piece of apocalyptic jewelry. Its doable. Trying to convince the gwenyn to stay out of trouble or get a hair cut is more difficult than this." Buffy said and then placed the last bit of cheese into her mouth before standing.

"Ok so I'm stuffed and I need to finish getting ready. Give me twenty minutes and I'll meet you out front. That gives you time to go make with the kissage with Lasseg before you have to give him a respectable goodbye in front of Elrond." Buffy told her as she stood up.

"You are incorrigible." Arwen replied standing and moving to the bedroom door.

"Of course I am. I have to balance out prim and proper you. No go. You're wasting kissage time."

Arwen made her way out the door and Buffy turned to the table. Moving over she picked up her fingerless gloves and put them on, followed by her bracers. She followed by placing her knives in each boot and then her belt. Next came her long dark coat followed by a dark green Lorien cloak. Moving over to the side of the table she picked up her modified blade harness and strapped in on over her cloak. She then picked up her full quiver and added it. She secured her bow and small pack finally and looked over her room. She had everything she needed and it was time to go join the testosterone troupe.

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Buffy stood with the Elladan, Elrohir, Arwen, and Legolas as the last of the fellowship gathered. They were simply waiting to say the last of their goodbye and as much as Buffy hated to admit it but this was the last time they would stand like this again. And even with the five of them together the group was still incomplete without Aragorn. For decades now it had been the six of them, though not all family they were friends. They were the next generation of the three realms of the Eldar and despite the distance between their homes they were one group, not only of friends but family.

Part of Buffy wanted to be sad about the thought they would never be like they were before the ring had reappeared but another part of her realized that now all of them would be family. She was struck yet again between the differences in her family here and before. Here her family was large and her friends too. Fate had made them family but bonds made them friends.

Buffy was distracted from her thoughts as she saw Elrond making his way down the long path. She had only a few minutes before he would be here. Legolas noticed her gaze and took heed, clasping hands with each of the gwenyn as Buffy moved over to hug Arwen.

"Cormamin niuve tenna'ta elea lle au'" She told Buffy as she held her tightly.(my heart shall weep until it sees you again)

"Namaarie Arwen. You are going to see me again, I swear." Buffy replied as she pulled away so that Arwen could tell Legolas good bye.

Looking at each of the gwenyn she was taken slightly off guard when they each swooped in on her from either side and hugged her.

"May the Valar protect you." said Elladan as he kissed her cheek.

"And please do not do something reckless such as challenge the Witch King yourself." added Elrohir as he did the same. Neither were letting go and they were squeezing her so tightly she was having problems breathing.

"Ok OK. If I promise to stay out of trouble will you stop trying to squeeze me to death?" Buffy complained.

"We will." they told her together.

"Fine, I promise. Now let me go. I've got weapons digging in where they shouldn't." Buffy told them and stepped away. She moved over to where Glorfindel was standing and smiled up at him, less than a step away.

"Dagnir." he acknowledged her with an even tone. Trust her buddy Glorf to be all stoic and proper.

"Lord Prissy Hair." she replied with a smirk before launching herself at him with a hug. After a seconds hesitation he returned it briefly and Buffy knew that that was the best she'd ever get out of him.

"Quel fara." he told her as she released him. Smiling Buffy turned to walk to join the fellowship. (happy hunting)

"Wish me monsters." she called over her shoulder as she came to stand beside Frodo and wait for Elrond to address the group.

"The ringbearer is setting out on the quest for Mount Doom. Of you who travel with him no oath or bond is laid to go further than you will. Farewell. Hold to your purpose. May the blessings of the elves and men and all free folk go with you." Elrond addressed the group At the end of his speech he gave Buffy a look and she nodded to him in response. The rest of the fellowship moved to pass through the arch and she followed, never noticing the look Arwen gave both her betrothed or Aragorn.

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Isengard December 29/ 39 Hrive 3018 III Age

Saruman stood over his plantir as it swirled beneath his hand. "So they have left the safety of the elven realm."

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December 29/ 39 Hrive 3018 III Age

It was almost an hour since they had broken camp and Buffy was silently wishing she had Asfaloth with her for the millionth time it seemed when Boromir came to walk beside her. She hadn't actually spoken to the two men of the group since they had left. Aragorn because she was still royally pissed off at him and Boromir because she really didn't have anything to say to him. After all she figured he'd just talk down to her because he was pissed off that a woman was allowed to go.

"Is what Gandalf said true, are you truly older than my father?" he asked her. She turned her head slightly to see him as she walked and could see that he wasn't being arrogant but merely curious.

"Yeah. I guess I look really good for my age." she admitted. She was gong to be ninety six in three weeks but she still looked twenty three. It was pretty impressive in her opinion. When she had first become the slayer she hadn't expected to make it to eighteen, but here she was coming up on her first century. Ok so maybe she'd died a couple of times but so had Angel and he was still around before she had come here.

"But how is that possible?" he asked her, looking confused.

"Same reason that Aragorn looks as good as he does considering we're less than a decade apart." Buffy replied evasively. He have her a look and she decided that since he wasn't being a jerk she give him the truth, well part of the truth anyway. "Both of us carry old blood, really old blood."

"You are one of the Dúnedain." he answered.

Buffy just smiled at him. She wouldn't lie outright but id he came to a conclusion and it was only half right she wasn't about to correct him. Until they reached Lothlorien she was more than content to let those that didn't know stay that way.

"And you are a Ranger." it was a statement rather than a question and she couldn't help but smirk. Apparently the concept of a woman who could fight was foreign to him.

"Among other things." she told him with a soft laugh. Oh yeah she was a lot of things now. Slayer, Ranger, bearer of a piece of jewelry with an cryptic attitude, Wilwarin of her people, daughter, technically aunt, younger sister, friend, and the oddest one of all to her was being pretty much an elven princess.

"Have you traveled to the White City?"

"Yeah. A very long time ago." she admitted with a smile. Minas Tirith was beautiful but she couldn't be herself there. They really weren't comfortable with women who could take care of themselves. And of course that living there was like living in Sunnydale with the amount of monsters in pretty close proximity.

"How long?"

"When your grandfather was still the Steward. Its a beautiful city. Only one problem with it as far as I'm concerned though." she informed him with a smile.

"What is that?"

"Too close to Mordor. But then I'd probably have all the monsters to slay my little heart desired if they'd let me join the soldiers." she said and he laughed.

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Argorn watched as Buffy chatted with Boromir as they walked and couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy. In the four days since they had left Rivendell she hadn't spoken to him one when it wasn't necessary.

Legolas had given her slightly upset look for the first day before Aragirn had heard her exclaim that they had made a deal and he should just deal with it. Aragorn wasn't sure what that meant until she said something about it not being her fault that the gwenyn were standing so close to himself and Glorfindel. After a few remarks on Legolas' part the issue had been dropped and they were back to their old selves.

Buffy was also interacting with the hobbits well, Merry and Pippin in paticular seemed to enjoy doing everything they could to make her laugh and oddly enough Buffy seemed to gravitate to Frodo quite a bit. They didn't speak a lot but it seemed as if the ringbearer drew strength just from her presence.

His attention was drawn again by the sound of both Boromir and Buffy laughing and he wondered what they were talking about. Straining her ears he listened.

".. covered in orc blood and Eru knows what else, so tired I wanted to pass out and Elladan rides up and tells Elrohir and I that he's found another group of and that if we hurry we can get them by nightfall. Well Elrohir was all for it and the..."

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January 6/ 47 Hrive 3019 III Age

Buffy could feel the rain soaking her as she watched an army of orcs attack Helms Deep. Even from the distance she could see men fall and though she wanted to move to help them she could not. It was as if she were trapped and she could only watch as innocent men fell to a mass of orcs that seemed to have no end.

Buffy jerked awake as she felt a hand touch her, the knife in her belt coming out instantly before she realized that it Sam.

"Sorry Buffy you were tossin' in your sleep and I thought you might be having a nightmare." Sam told her, he looked a little frightened and Buffy felt bad for pulling the knife. Sliding it back into its shieth she smiled up at him. Determined to make him feel comfortable around her again even as she stored the images form her dream in the back of her mind to consider later.

"It's ok Sam. I'm sorry I scared you. Come on lets move over by the fire and have a talk." Buffy offered as she stood up and moved closer to the small fire. She could hear Legolas in a tree to her left keeping watch and but she seriously doubted anyone except her ever would. The rest of the fellowship was out cold, though she knew that if she raised her voice even a little bit both Aragorn and Boromir would be awake in an instant. Gandalf was sleeping with his eyes open and no matter how many times she'd seen it, it still creeped her out a bit. And Gimli was snoring loudly enough to be heard over the crackle of the fire. Sam nodded and sat down across from her. He was quiet and Buffy could tell something was bothering him.

"What's wrong Sam? You've got something face." she asked.

"I don't know what you mean Buffy." Sam said nervously looking at his hands.

"Yeah you do. You're worried about something. So tell me and I might be able to help." she coaxed.

"I'm just worried that's all. I mean what sort of help will I be to the fellowship? I'm not a wizard like Gandalf and I'm not a warrior like you, Strider, Boromir or Legolas. What help am I?" he asked her looking forlorn. This Buffy knew she could handle, after all her time away from the scoobies she'd come to understand a lot more about people and even more about herself. She wasn't perfect by any means she knew and she still had more than her fair share of fears but a lot of them weren't fears she'd had back in Sunnydale. "I'm going to tell you something so you do understand alright?" she began. "Before I came here I told you that I had friends helping me right?"

He nodded and she continued. "What I didn't tell you is that I couldn't have made it without them. Not long before I came here all of my friends turned their backs on because we were losing our war but one stuck by me. His name was Spike and he helped me. When they turned against me I felt like I had nothing to fight for, nothing left to give. I was ready to just lay down and die but Spike wouldn't let me quit. I tried to push him away but he refused to leave me. He believed in me when no one else did and stood by me when no one else could or would. He gave me the strength to go on and win. So don't believe that just because you aren't a wizard or a warrior that you can't help because sometimes it isn't a wizard or a warrior that can help us, sometimes it just having someone stand by us." during her speech his mood seemed to lighten a bit and Buffy figured she'd done all she could without going into details that she had left far behind in the past. Standing up, she strached and smiled at the hobbit.

"Now I'm going back to sleep and you should too. We've got another long day tomorrow." she told him and moved to go back to sleep sitting next to the trunk of the tree Legolas was in. She figured she had an hour or so to sleep before it was her turn to take watch so she'd try to actually use it to sleep. She picked up her quiver from the tree she had been leaning against before and took it with her.

"Thank you Buffy." Sam said to her as he moved to the other side of the camp to lay down next to Frodo.

Your welcome. Night Sam." she whispered, sitting down and adjusting herself so that her blades wouldn't dig into her back and setting her bow and quiver withing easy reach.

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Hollin Ridge January 8/ 49 Hrive 3019 III Age

Buffy sat near the fire on a boulder just under Gandalf, she had chosen her seat intentionally to keep away from both the smoke of Gandalf's pipe and to keep a safe distance from Aragorn. Frodo sat on a boulder watching as Boromir attempted to teach Merry and Pippin how to use their swords with Sam crouched next to him. Legolas was keeping watch and most of them were talking though Buffy didn't pay attention.

Instead she was focused on her dreams over the last few days. Since the night Sam had woken her she had been having the same dream over and over again. Helms Deep attacked by an army of orcs in the rain. Buffy knew it was a slayer dream, which usually meant trouble but from what she knew of Rohan and its climate she still had time left before it happened. Rain wouldn't start to hit Rohan for another month and a half.

She could hear Gimli complaining to Gndalf but ignored it, the dwarf's complaining wasn't her problem this apocalypse because she wasn't the leader. She heard Legolas' rushed footsteps and stood just after her jumped over her to reach the rock next to her. He was staring off into the distance at the sky and she followed his gaze with her own. Behind her she could hear Boromir being attacked in fun by Merry and Pippin and then Aragorn attepting to break them up. There was a loud thump sound and her ears caught the sound of a grunt. If she wasn't mistaken then the hobbits had just managed to drop Aragorn on his butt. Part of her wanted to laugh at that but Legolas' tense stature next to her prevented it.

"What is that?" she heard Sam ask behind her as she stared forward. It looked like a mass of black and Buffy had a good idea what it was and it definitely wasn't of the good.

"Nothing. Its just a wisp of clouds." Gimli replied.

"Lasseg if that's what I think it is..." she started.

"Against the wind."

"Crebain from Dunland!" Legolas finished for her in a shout. Thinking quickly she jumped down off the boulder and grabbed the cloaks nearest to her before grabbing Pippin by the scruff and dragging her with him under the cover of some shrubs and overhanging rocks. Within seconds Legolas was on her other side and they watched as the birds flew over them. After a couple of minutes they were gone and she could hear Gandalf coming from his hiding place.

"Spies of Saruman! The passage south is being watched. We must take the Pass of Caradhas." He told the group and Buffy couldn't keep herself from muttering under her breath.

"Why couldn't it be orcs? Orcs I can handle. I hate snow."

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Isengard January 10/ 51 Hrive 3019 III Age

Saurman stood in the caves of Isengard as his Crebain flew away in the distance. An orc stood behind him awaiting instructions. Without turning to face it he spoke.

"Send the wargs."

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Redhorn Pass Caradhas January 10/ 51 Hrive 3019 III Age

Buffy knew she was dragging behind the rest of the fellowship but she and snow just didn't mix. Even with her elven blood that kept her from feeling the cold as much as the others did she hated it. In her mind Buffy and snow were very unmixy things and they were going to cross the pass in the worst part of the year on foot. Buffy was also slightly annoyed with Legolas at the moment because she had figured out a few hours before that she couldn't walk on the snow like he could. She'd managed to get the pasty skin of an elf which she hated but she didn't get something useful like walking on top of snow. It bugged the hell out of her that he weighed a good fifty pounds more than her and got to play Prince light foot while she sunk like a stone.

So she was bringing up the rear with Aragorn in front of her. She figured he was hanging back with her because he knew how much she hated the snow but she hadn't said anything to him. She wasn't so mad at him that she wanted to hit him anymore but she was still ticked off.

Buffy watched as Frodo fell backwards and Aragorn rushed forward to help him. Keeping her eyes on them both, she forced her legs to keep moving as Frodo checked for the ring. Buffy stopped just short of the two of them as Boromir reached down and picked it up by the chain that held it.

Buffy could almost feel the tension coming of Aragorn and Frodo and she felt her own body tense in case she needed to take the ring from him in order to see it back in the hands of Frodo.

"Boromir!"

The Gondorian seemed entranced by it and didn't hear the call "It is such a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing. Such a little thing."

"Boromir!Give the ring to Frodo." Aragorn called out more loudly and Buffy was glad to see his eyes lift up from the ring and move slowly down to give the ring back.

"As you wish." he told Aragorn as he held the ring out to Frodo who snatched it back. "I care not." he told them in a lighter tone and Buffy knew that they were going to end up with a problem with him at some point.

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Buffy felt like she was freezing to death and she was in a crappy humor as she trudged between Aragorn and Boromir. Despite not having to help the hobbits along. Boromir and Aragorn were each helping two while Gandalf cleared a path and Legolas pranced around on top of the snow and scouted.

The snow was falling hard and Buffy had lost feeling in her fingers about an hour before. Slayers were built tough but eventually she'd freeze just like any one else.

The sound of rumbling caught her attention and she looked up above her in time to see a mass of snow falling towards them. Thinking quickly, she moved for the wall of rock next to her as she pulled Aragorn and by proxy Frodo and Sam with her.

They managed to escape the onslaught And Buffy could hear Aragorn trying to talk to Gandalf over the blizzard.

"He's trying to bring down the mountain! Gandalf, we must turn back!"

"No!" came the wizard's reply as he stepped up the bank of snow and began to chant. "Lasto Caradhras, sedho, hodo, nuitho i'riuth!"

Buffy turned her head above them in time to see the lighting strike. "Take cover!" she managed to yell before the snow began to fall. It rained down on them and within seconds Buffy knew she was buried just like the rest of the fellowship. Moving her arms as best she could she began to dig and after what felt like hours to her she managed to break the surface. Looking around her in a panic she saw Legolas pop out first and turn his head to her. He looked about as happy as she felt. The others began to appear with coughs and sputters.

"We must get off the mountain! Make for the Gap of Rohan and take the west road to my city!" Boromir told Gandalf.

"The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard!" countered Aragorn and she had to agree with him in her mind. She wasn't about to try and play leader here and cause a fight, the males were doing that well enough for her.

"If we cannot pass over the mountain, let us go under it. Let us go through the mines of Moria." came Gimli's voice from behind her and she had to suppress a shudder at the idea. She wasn't an elf in the usual was but she did carry their hatred of being enclosed in rock. She was a nature girl now and stone was not a friend.

"Let the ring bearer decide." Gandalf intoned.

"We cannot stay here! This will be the death of the hobbits."

"Frodo?" Gandalf asked and Buffy turned her head to face the hobbit.

"We will go through the mines." he told everyone and Buffy felt her stomach drop. This was going to end badly and she knew it. Taking a deep breath she looked down at her numb hands and saw Narya flash faintly. And in her mind she heard a voice that she could never forget, no matter how many decades it had been.

"From beneath you it devours."

"So be it." Buffy heard Gandlf reply and the fellowship began to try and move from the snow that covered most of their bodies.

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January 12/ 53 Hrive 3019 III Age

The campfire was warm and soothing as it died out the last vestiges of wetness from the fellowship. It had taken much less work to made it back down from the pass than it had to get up it and Buffy felt like part of her wanted to thank gravity got that. The other part however, really did not want to go into the mines. She wasn't certain what was in there but she knew for a fact most of what attempted to invade Lorien's borders came from there.

Buffy could hear the rest of the fellowship preparing food for dinner and trying to dry out various things behind her as she stood on the far edge of the camp, her spot the exact counterpart of Legolas'.

She felt a push at her mind and let the barriers that she had long ago learned to put up ease back a bit.

"Buffy." she heard Legolas's voice in her head.

"Yeah Legolas?" she asked him. He wouldn't have bothered speaking to her like this unless he didn't want them heard.

"I wish to speak with you about Aragorn." he told her.

"There isn't anything to talk about. He made his choice when he told me I couldn't do something and then when he said he wouldn't 'allow' me to do something that was my choice and not his." Buffy replied, her voice full of anger.

"He acted out of love." he replied to her in a calming voice.

"If he really loved me or even respected me he'd let me make my own choices. I'm not some damsel in distress, I'm the slayer. And we're not talking about this any more." Buffy told him, her tone left no room for argument. She wasn't about to stop being angry at Aragorn until she got a very large apology and a promise to let her make her own choices.

"Be iest lîn." he acquiesced. She knew he wasn't happy about her staying mad at Aragorn but he would have to live with it. She felt bad for snapping at him because he was only trying to help though.(as you wish)

"Thanks. I'm sorry I snapped at you I'm just a little wound up about going into Moria. I really don't like the idea of going in there." she offered. She had a sense of unease filling her and very faintly she felt her slayer sense begin to tingle.

"Our kind do not fare fell within walls of stone. I do not li..."

"Legolas do you feel it?" she interrupted him. She could feel it, it was coming closer and fast.

"Evil approaches." came Legolas' reply as Buffy realized what was coming. They had maybe three minutes before the wargs were upon them.

"Wargs! Get the torches lit! Boromir! Protect the hobbits!" Buffy yelled to the rest of the fellowship. Almost instantly Aragorn had torches lit and he and Boromir were racing around to toss them at the ground for light. The hobbits backed themselves into a corner by a large boulder and Boromir rushed to stand guard over them.

"How many?" Aragorn asked as he came up beside Buffy, his sword drawn.

"A dozen, maybe more." Legolas told them from his spot about two dozen pases from Buffy.

"Aragorn, you and Gimli take the other two points." Buffy instructed the Ranger.

"I am the better archer." he tried to argue with her. She didn't have time for this.

"I can see in the dark and you can't! Don't argue! Just cover the other side of the camp." she told him and pushed him off to go to his place Gimli was already in place with his axe drawn. Both Gandalf and Boromir stood before the hobbit and all of them had their swords drawn.

"There are a dozen." Legolas told her as he knocked an arrow. Buffy did the same and as they both took aim at the quickly approaching monsters. She felt her lips quirk a little even as her eyes grew more determined.

"Lets thin the herd." she told the elf and they began to shoot. They both landed their first shot, Legolas killing one instantly and Buffy wounding her target greatly. Buffy let a second shot go and it hit its mark and killed the warg. Legolas took one last shot and took out another just before they were upon them.

Drawing her sword, Buffy ducked just as one launched itself at her. She slashed at it with her sword, slicing clean through its neck. The beast fell and Buffy turned to find another, seeing one bearing down on Boromir and Gandlf who distracted with another, she ran forward and tackled the beast rolling with the fall and coming up to her feet instantly. It lunged at her, its jaws gaping and Buffy stepped to the side just in time to miss its teeth. "Now I remember why mom always said no pets." she quipped as she moved she grabbed one of her long daggers from her back and shoved it into the beast's skull, killing it instantly. She had barely enough time to register that it was dead before she felt a massive weight hit her.

Curing herself with the impact the rolled and came up to her feet, both blades in her hands. She looked down at her coat to see four teeth holes in the right arm. "Oh no you did not just put a hole in my coat. That's it!" she yelled as the beast came it her again. She didn't even give it time to attack properly, instead lashing out with her dagger to slice through its side as it passed her while she used Ruin to sever its head with one slayer strength filled swipe.

She looked around her to see the hers was the last one and took a deep breath. No one was dead and aside from a few cuts and bruises everyone seemed fine.

"We cannot stay here." Gandalf informed them.

"I'm so agreeing with that right now." Buffy agreed as she moved to wipe the blood from her blades.

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Near the West Gate of Moria January 13/ 54 Hrive 3019 III Age

They kept going even after night fall, the chances of being hunted again by Saruman's minions pushing them on. Buffy was keeping herself on high alert just in case but she hadn't felt anything really jump out at her slayer sense since the night before. She turned her head as Boromir came up next to her but didn't speak.

"I misjudged you. Now that I have seen you in battle I have no doubt that you are a warrior." he told her. Buffy felt slight affronted at that but knew she couldn't hold it against him. He'd never encountered a strong woman before apparently.

"Gee thanks Boro." she replied with no small amount of sarcasm.

"I do not mean to offend but never before have I seen a woman who fights as you do. You seem to have the strength of a man and the swiftness of the elves. How is it that you possess such skills?" he asked her.

"A lifetime of training and fighting." Buffy told him evasively before moving ahead to walk next to Legolas. They were gonna find out about her when they got to Lothlorien but she wasn't about to let them know yet. They walked in silence for a few more minutes before she heard Gimli speak.

"The walls of Moria."

"Dwarf doors are invisible when closed." he stated as the fellowshop looked at a sheer rock face with no visible door.

"Yes, Gimli their own masters cannot find them, if their secrets are forgotten." commented Gandalf.

"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Legolas whispered to Buffy and she had to fight to suppress a laugh. She elbowed him in the side and he looked down at her, eyes twinkling. Buffy looked over to her side to see Aragorn smirking as well and despite the fact that she was still mad at him, they shared a small smile.

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