Written by Sunni
After backtracking from having met up with Galuwen and Linwelos, the group of six arrived at Dunharrow and saw the camp that Théoden had set up. Tents were spread across a vast stretch of land as riders returned from across the Riddermark with more troops. As the group tended to their horses, Legolas looked around the camp and said, "The horses are restless and the Men quiet."
Éomer who was walking by with a saddle in his hands replied to the elf and those around him, "They grow nervous in the shadow of the mountain."
"That road there," Gimli asks looking in its direction, "Where does it lead?"
The group turned to look at the darkened passage between the mountains as Legolas replied, "It is the road to the Dimholt, the door under the mountain."
Éomer looked at the dwarf, then to the darkened road and said, "None who venture there ever return."
Aragorn stood next to a slab of rock and looked into the darkness of the mountain. Faces begin to form out of what appears to be a greenish colored smoke as a worried expression is etched upon his face.
"Aragorn!" Gimli says gruffly, snapping him from his thoughts.
Quickly turning around after hearing the dwarf's voice Gimli continues to speak and says, "Come on. Let's find some food."
As the two leave the entrance to the mountain pass they met up with Linwelos and Galuwen who had just finished tending to their horses for the evening as well as Angel who had just come over to where the two elves were.
Later on that night, Aragorn lay resting in one of the tents atop a cliff overlooking the valley. His sleep was restless as he dreamt of Arwen. But these dreams were not what he had expected. Her vengeful voice echoed in his mind as he heard her say mercilessly, "My enemy is the one who made me feel most mortal, Aragorn..." He saw the Evenstar fall upon the ground and shatter into millions of pieces. Then seeing her once serene blue eyes turn into those resembling golden orbs as her features shift to those of one that is evil. Her hissing voice resonated in his mind as she said; "I now see who my true champion is. The one who has blessed me with his blood."
Jerking upright, he swiftly drew out the dagger given to him by Galadriel after seeing those thoughts in his mind. He could still hear her voice echoing inside his head when he saw the guard standing at the opening to his tent.
"Sir? King Théoden awaits you my lord." The guard says as he looks upon the man holding the dagger as if someone were after him.
A mysterious figure cloaked in all black rode up the winding road to the cliff above. As the destination was reached the figure entered the tent of the King after having left his travelling companion he had brought with him down below in the valley at the rest of the camp.
Quickly rising and resheathing the dagger, he strode to Théoden's tent where he saw the King standing over a cloaked figure. Théoden looked to Aragorn as he stepped inside and said, "I take my leave," and left the two alone together. Slowly approaching the unknown visitor, the hooded figure rose and revealed their identity.
"My Lord Elrond..." Aragorn said in surprise to see him standing there.
"A demon now possesses the heart of one whom I love. And not even your love for her could quench her thirst for blood." Elrond began to say as he looked upon the ranger's face of disbelief. Aragorn listened to the words that were just spoken as he thought to the dream he had just before being awoken as the elf lord continued.
"The light of the Evenstar is failing and her life is now in the hands of a dark warrior. The shadow is upon us, Aragorn. The end has come."
"It will not be our end, but his." Aragorn replied to him when Elrond suddenly countered, "You ride to war, but not to victory. Sauron's armies march on Minas Tirith, this you know. But in secret he sends another force that will attack from the river. A fleet of corsair ships sails from the south. They will be in the city in two days. You're outnumbered... You need more men."
"There are none," Aragorn said when Elrond offers up a suggestion to him, "There are those who dwell in the mountains."
Aragorn ponders this thought and sees a vision of the King of the Dead when he says back angrily, "Murders... Traitors! You would call upon them to fight? They believe in nothing! They will answer to no one!"
"They will answer to the King of Gondor!" Elrond counters once more as he sweeps aside his cloak and pulls out the sheathed sword he carried and presents it to him.
Taking the sword from Elrond's hands, the Lord of Rivendell says, "Andúril, Flame of the West. Forged from the shards of Narsil."
Looking at the sword now in his hands, Aragorn says, "Sauron will not have forgotten the Sword of Elendil." Then quickly withdrawing the blade from its sheath the firelight shimmered upon the sword as he looked back to Elrond and said, "The blade that was broken shall return to Minas Tirith."
Aragorn resheathed the sword, as Elrond spoke up, "The man who can wield the power of this sword can summon to him an army more deadly than any that walks the earth."
Looking from the sword to Elrond's face, the elven lord commanded, "Put aside the ranger. Become who you were born to be. Take the Dimholt road." After a moment of silence between the two he began to recite something very near to Aragorn's heart.
"Ónen i-Estel Edain." {I gave hope to the Dúnedain.}
Countering, Aragorn completed the verse and said in a quiet tone, "Ú-chebin Estel anim." {I have kept no hope for myself.}
Buffy, Éowyn, and Merry are inside one of the tents, dressing the hobbit in Rohirrim armor after his return to the group. He began to tell the two of what he had seen happen while travelling captive with the warrior who had taken him from Helm's Deep. When he had stopped talking and they had finished with the armor Éowyn said proudly, "There. A true esquire of Rohan." Quickly drawing out his blade, he almost cut Buffy and Éowyn in the process in his excitement. The two women laughed at the hobbits antics when Merry says, "Sorry. It isn't all that dangerous. It's not even sharp."
Grasping the blade with her hands, Éowyn replies, "Well, that's no good. You won't kill many orcs with a blunt blade. Come on."
Ushering the hobbit out of the tent and past Gamling and Éomer she says, "To the smithy. Go!" Buffy left the tent and stood next to Éowyn when Éomer looks towards the two and says, "You should not encourage him."
"And you should not doubt him." Éowyn replied to the two men after looking at Buffy beside her.
"I do not doubt his heart, only the reach of his arm." Éomer said in return.
Gamling began to snicker at the captain's words when Éowyn countered, "Why should Merry be left behind? He has as much cause to go to war as you do. Why can he not fight for those he loves?" before she turned and walked away.
Buffy watched her walk away before adding, "When it comes to battle, every sword counts..." and followed in the woman's footsteps as she headed towards the smithy where Merry was.
Éowyn had gotten side tracked on her way to where the hobbit was and when Buffy reached where he was. Looking up at the blonde woman the little halfling said, "I have seen your friend. The one you have not seen since you were injured."
Her mind not fully paying attention to the words of the hobbit and focusing on her thoughts of Angel she replied, "My friend?"
"Yes, the blonde one with a temper." Merry said in response.
"Spike? Where did you see him..." Buffy asked, wondering where he had disappeared to.
"In Rivendell. He took me from the fortress when he left. The shadow has taken him. He has already killed the King of the Mirkwood and..." he said, hesitating when he got to what had happened most recently.
"And what?" Buffy prodded, "What has he done."
"I don't know the words to describe what I saw my lady." Merry said as he saw the grave look upon her face.
"All I know is that the maiden who helped Frodo when he was stabbed at Weathertop is no longer the same." He continued saying, remembering the look of blood lust in Arwen's eyes after her encounter with Spike.
"Did he turn her?" Buffy asked nervously, fearing the answer she would hear.
The look upon the hobbits face was one of not understanding what she meant when Buffy rephrased her question, "Did she take on his features?"
Stammering, remembering the elf's now golden yellow eyes, he replied, "Yes. I will never forget the look of hatred in her eyes as they turned from blue to yellow."
Buffy didn't know what to think about what she'd just heard. But she did know that Aragorn needed to know about this.
"You must tell Aragorn what you have just told me." She replied as the hobbit collected his sword from the man who was running the smithy.
"I shall as soon as I see him." The hobbit said as he left the tent.
Pausing momentarily to recollect on the thought of Spike having sired another vampire, she wondered what had happened to set him off and go on a spree like that. Unknowingly to her, she didn't know that Angel was here in the same camp and that he had walked by where she was not even five minutes before she'd left the tent. Looking out at the dark sky she wondered where he was and if she'd seem him again. Upon having left the tent and stepping into the bustling camp around her, a recollection hit her. One that she thought would have come to her much sooner than just now.
"Aragorn, here? If that is true then that means Angel is here too!" she said to herself as she set off to try and locate him.
After leaving the tent, he gathered his things and went to collect Brego for the trip through the Dimholt Road, finally fulfilling his destiny. He'd run into Merry and the little hobbit told him of what he had seen happen in Rivendell and his heart sank at the words. He hadn't doubted Elrond's words but hearing it from someone who was there confirmed the fact that she had fallen into dark hands. After the hobbit left he continued to get Brego ready when Éowyn appeared.
"Why are you doing this? The war lies to the east, you can not leave on the eve of battle...You can not abandon the men!" she asks, a worried tone hidden within her voice.
"Éowyn..." he replied, turning around to face her.
"We need you here..." she pleaded to him, hoping to get him to stay.
"Why have you come?" he asked sadly.
Slightly taken back by his question she replied, "Do you not know?"
"It is but a shadow and a thought that you love. I can not give you what you seek." He said when Linwelos suddenly appeared by his side.
Éowyn looked away in disbelief and shock as Aragorn looked to the elf at his side then to her for a moment before leading Brego away as the woman stood in tears, completely overwhelmed and heartbroken. When she turned back, the elf who had once been at his side had gone following him as he left. And she was left all alone in a daze, as it seemed. Aragorn saw Linwelos was still with him and proceeded towards the mountain pass when a gruff voice asked, "Just where do you think you are going?"
Turning to see Gimli sitting near by, Aragorn replied, "Not this time. This time you must stay Gimli."
To Aragorn's right side, Legolas, Galuwen, and Angel appear with their horses when Legolas comments, "Have you learned nothing of the stubbornness of dwarves?"
"You might as well accept it. We're going with you laddie." Gimli replied as he stood alongside the others.
Aragorn turned towards Angel and was getting ready to say something when a shocked look came across Linwelos' face as she said, "I miire! Ta silor ve manke ta I halya en' agar!" {The jewel! It shines as if it was the shade of blood!}
Everyone's eyes focused upon the jewel around his neck, as they saw the red sheen the necklace was emitting. Turning again to Angel he asked, "Is there any cure to save her?" Angel shook his head and replied, "Unless you consider a stake through the heart or being beheaded a cure, then no. I do know from personal experience that you will probably be in danger. She will make it a point to go after the one who made her feel most mortal. At first it will look like her but inside it is the demon that is controlling her actions and fueling the bloodlust within her. Most likely, the next encounter the two of you have, she will try and kill you."
"If she even tries..." Linwelos began to say before Aragorn interjected by saying, "I don't want you involved in this."
"If by my life or death, I can protect you, I will." Linwelos stated firmly, not giving him any chance to refuse her help.
Anya saw the group leaving and looked to one of the soldiers of Rohan sitting near by. She needed to vent and he was the closest person to listen and whether he liked it or not he was going to listen.
"Why did Xander have to leave? I mean you'd think he'd be by my side to protect me. Look at the elves I have yet to see the blonde without the redhead. First Xander leaves me at the altar on our wedding day, then gets mad because I go back to being a vengeance demon. I mean what was I supposed to do? Cry? Xander is supposed to protect me, because we are in this medieval place, right?" Anya says to the warrior who at this point is about ready to go insane at her pointless babble which to him made no sense what so ever when she continued on, "So he is my knight in shining armor and what does he do? He rides off with a wizard and a short midget! What happened to protect the women of the land. Xander Harris, if we live past this I'll... I'll... I'll have sex with you a lot!"
After backtracking from having met up with Galuwen and Linwelos, the group of six arrived at Dunharrow and saw the camp that Théoden had set up. Tents were spread across a vast stretch of land as riders returned from across the Riddermark with more troops. As the group tended to their horses, Legolas looked around the camp and said, "The horses are restless and the Men quiet."
Éomer who was walking by with a saddle in his hands replied to the elf and those around him, "They grow nervous in the shadow of the mountain."
"That road there," Gimli asks looking in its direction, "Where does it lead?"
The group turned to look at the darkened passage between the mountains as Legolas replied, "It is the road to the Dimholt, the door under the mountain."
Éomer looked at the dwarf, then to the darkened road and said, "None who venture there ever return."
Aragorn stood next to a slab of rock and looked into the darkness of the mountain. Faces begin to form out of what appears to be a greenish colored smoke as a worried expression is etched upon his face.
"Aragorn!" Gimli says gruffly, snapping him from his thoughts.
Quickly turning around after hearing the dwarf's voice Gimli continues to speak and says, "Come on. Let's find some food."
As the two leave the entrance to the mountain pass they met up with Linwelos and Galuwen who had just finished tending to their horses for the evening as well as Angel who had just come over to where the two elves were.
Later on that night, Aragorn lay resting in one of the tents atop a cliff overlooking the valley. His sleep was restless as he dreamt of Arwen. But these dreams were not what he had expected. Her vengeful voice echoed in his mind as he heard her say mercilessly, "My enemy is the one who made me feel most mortal, Aragorn..." He saw the Evenstar fall upon the ground and shatter into millions of pieces. Then seeing her once serene blue eyes turn into those resembling golden orbs as her features shift to those of one that is evil. Her hissing voice resonated in his mind as she said; "I now see who my true champion is. The one who has blessed me with his blood."
Jerking upright, he swiftly drew out the dagger given to him by Galadriel after seeing those thoughts in his mind. He could still hear her voice echoing inside his head when he saw the guard standing at the opening to his tent.
"Sir? King Théoden awaits you my lord." The guard says as he looks upon the man holding the dagger as if someone were after him.
A mysterious figure cloaked in all black rode up the winding road to the cliff above. As the destination was reached the figure entered the tent of the King after having left his travelling companion he had brought with him down below in the valley at the rest of the camp.
Quickly rising and resheathing the dagger, he strode to Théoden's tent where he saw the King standing over a cloaked figure. Théoden looked to Aragorn as he stepped inside and said, "I take my leave," and left the two alone together. Slowly approaching the unknown visitor, the hooded figure rose and revealed their identity.
"My Lord Elrond..." Aragorn said in surprise to see him standing there.
"A demon now possesses the heart of one whom I love. And not even your love for her could quench her thirst for blood." Elrond began to say as he looked upon the ranger's face of disbelief. Aragorn listened to the words that were just spoken as he thought to the dream he had just before being awoken as the elf lord continued.
"The light of the Evenstar is failing and her life is now in the hands of a dark warrior. The shadow is upon us, Aragorn. The end has come."
"It will not be our end, but his." Aragorn replied to him when Elrond suddenly countered, "You ride to war, but not to victory. Sauron's armies march on Minas Tirith, this you know. But in secret he sends another force that will attack from the river. A fleet of corsair ships sails from the south. They will be in the city in two days. You're outnumbered... You need more men."
"There are none," Aragorn said when Elrond offers up a suggestion to him, "There are those who dwell in the mountains."
Aragorn ponders this thought and sees a vision of the King of the Dead when he says back angrily, "Murders... Traitors! You would call upon them to fight? They believe in nothing! They will answer to no one!"
"They will answer to the King of Gondor!" Elrond counters once more as he sweeps aside his cloak and pulls out the sheathed sword he carried and presents it to him.
Taking the sword from Elrond's hands, the Lord of Rivendell says, "Andúril, Flame of the West. Forged from the shards of Narsil."
Looking at the sword now in his hands, Aragorn says, "Sauron will not have forgotten the Sword of Elendil." Then quickly withdrawing the blade from its sheath the firelight shimmered upon the sword as he looked back to Elrond and said, "The blade that was broken shall return to Minas Tirith."
Aragorn resheathed the sword, as Elrond spoke up, "The man who can wield the power of this sword can summon to him an army more deadly than any that walks the earth."
Looking from the sword to Elrond's face, the elven lord commanded, "Put aside the ranger. Become who you were born to be. Take the Dimholt road." After a moment of silence between the two he began to recite something very near to Aragorn's heart.
"Ónen i-Estel Edain." {I gave hope to the Dúnedain.}
Countering, Aragorn completed the verse and said in a quiet tone, "Ú-chebin Estel anim." {I have kept no hope for myself.}
Buffy, Éowyn, and Merry are inside one of the tents, dressing the hobbit in Rohirrim armor after his return to the group. He began to tell the two of what he had seen happen while travelling captive with the warrior who had taken him from Helm's Deep. When he had stopped talking and they had finished with the armor Éowyn said proudly, "There. A true esquire of Rohan." Quickly drawing out his blade, he almost cut Buffy and Éowyn in the process in his excitement. The two women laughed at the hobbits antics when Merry says, "Sorry. It isn't all that dangerous. It's not even sharp."
Grasping the blade with her hands, Éowyn replies, "Well, that's no good. You won't kill many orcs with a blunt blade. Come on."
Ushering the hobbit out of the tent and past Gamling and Éomer she says, "To the smithy. Go!" Buffy left the tent and stood next to Éowyn when Éomer looks towards the two and says, "You should not encourage him."
"And you should not doubt him." Éowyn replied to the two men after looking at Buffy beside her.
"I do not doubt his heart, only the reach of his arm." Éomer said in return.
Gamling began to snicker at the captain's words when Éowyn countered, "Why should Merry be left behind? He has as much cause to go to war as you do. Why can he not fight for those he loves?" before she turned and walked away.
Buffy watched her walk away before adding, "When it comes to battle, every sword counts..." and followed in the woman's footsteps as she headed towards the smithy where Merry was.
Éowyn had gotten side tracked on her way to where the hobbit was and when Buffy reached where he was. Looking up at the blonde woman the little halfling said, "I have seen your friend. The one you have not seen since you were injured."
Her mind not fully paying attention to the words of the hobbit and focusing on her thoughts of Angel she replied, "My friend?"
"Yes, the blonde one with a temper." Merry said in response.
"Spike? Where did you see him..." Buffy asked, wondering where he had disappeared to.
"In Rivendell. He took me from the fortress when he left. The shadow has taken him. He has already killed the King of the Mirkwood and..." he said, hesitating when he got to what had happened most recently.
"And what?" Buffy prodded, "What has he done."
"I don't know the words to describe what I saw my lady." Merry said as he saw the grave look upon her face.
"All I know is that the maiden who helped Frodo when he was stabbed at Weathertop is no longer the same." He continued saying, remembering the look of blood lust in Arwen's eyes after her encounter with Spike.
"Did he turn her?" Buffy asked nervously, fearing the answer she would hear.
The look upon the hobbits face was one of not understanding what she meant when Buffy rephrased her question, "Did she take on his features?"
Stammering, remembering the elf's now golden yellow eyes, he replied, "Yes. I will never forget the look of hatred in her eyes as they turned from blue to yellow."
Buffy didn't know what to think about what she'd just heard. But she did know that Aragorn needed to know about this.
"You must tell Aragorn what you have just told me." She replied as the hobbit collected his sword from the man who was running the smithy.
"I shall as soon as I see him." The hobbit said as he left the tent.
Pausing momentarily to recollect on the thought of Spike having sired another vampire, she wondered what had happened to set him off and go on a spree like that. Unknowingly to her, she didn't know that Angel was here in the same camp and that he had walked by where she was not even five minutes before she'd left the tent. Looking out at the dark sky she wondered where he was and if she'd seem him again. Upon having left the tent and stepping into the bustling camp around her, a recollection hit her. One that she thought would have come to her much sooner than just now.
"Aragorn, here? If that is true then that means Angel is here too!" she said to herself as she set off to try and locate him.
After leaving the tent, he gathered his things and went to collect Brego for the trip through the Dimholt Road, finally fulfilling his destiny. He'd run into Merry and the little hobbit told him of what he had seen happen in Rivendell and his heart sank at the words. He hadn't doubted Elrond's words but hearing it from someone who was there confirmed the fact that she had fallen into dark hands. After the hobbit left he continued to get Brego ready when Éowyn appeared.
"Why are you doing this? The war lies to the east, you can not leave on the eve of battle...You can not abandon the men!" she asks, a worried tone hidden within her voice.
"Éowyn..." he replied, turning around to face her.
"We need you here..." she pleaded to him, hoping to get him to stay.
"Why have you come?" he asked sadly.
Slightly taken back by his question she replied, "Do you not know?"
"It is but a shadow and a thought that you love. I can not give you what you seek." He said when Linwelos suddenly appeared by his side.
Éowyn looked away in disbelief and shock as Aragorn looked to the elf at his side then to her for a moment before leading Brego away as the woman stood in tears, completely overwhelmed and heartbroken. When she turned back, the elf who had once been at his side had gone following him as he left. And she was left all alone in a daze, as it seemed. Aragorn saw Linwelos was still with him and proceeded towards the mountain pass when a gruff voice asked, "Just where do you think you are going?"
Turning to see Gimli sitting near by, Aragorn replied, "Not this time. This time you must stay Gimli."
To Aragorn's right side, Legolas, Galuwen, and Angel appear with their horses when Legolas comments, "Have you learned nothing of the stubbornness of dwarves?"
"You might as well accept it. We're going with you laddie." Gimli replied as he stood alongside the others.
Aragorn turned towards Angel and was getting ready to say something when a shocked look came across Linwelos' face as she said, "I miire! Ta silor ve manke ta I halya en' agar!" {The jewel! It shines as if it was the shade of blood!}
Everyone's eyes focused upon the jewel around his neck, as they saw the red sheen the necklace was emitting. Turning again to Angel he asked, "Is there any cure to save her?" Angel shook his head and replied, "Unless you consider a stake through the heart or being beheaded a cure, then no. I do know from personal experience that you will probably be in danger. She will make it a point to go after the one who made her feel most mortal. At first it will look like her but inside it is the demon that is controlling her actions and fueling the bloodlust within her. Most likely, the next encounter the two of you have, she will try and kill you."
"If she even tries..." Linwelos began to say before Aragorn interjected by saying, "I don't want you involved in this."
"If by my life or death, I can protect you, I will." Linwelos stated firmly, not giving him any chance to refuse her help.
Anya saw the group leaving and looked to one of the soldiers of Rohan sitting near by. She needed to vent and he was the closest person to listen and whether he liked it or not he was going to listen.
"Why did Xander have to leave? I mean you'd think he'd be by my side to protect me. Look at the elves I have yet to see the blonde without the redhead. First Xander leaves me at the altar on our wedding day, then gets mad because I go back to being a vengeance demon. I mean what was I supposed to do? Cry? Xander is supposed to protect me, because we are in this medieval place, right?" Anya says to the warrior who at this point is about ready to go insane at her pointless babble which to him made no sense what so ever when she continued on, "So he is my knight in shining armor and what does he do? He rides off with a wizard and a short midget! What happened to protect the women of the land. Xander Harris, if we live past this I'll... I'll... I'll have sex with you a lot!"