~*~ Part 1 ~*~
Buffy fell through the portal at an alarming speed. The light around her changed from the bright blue to darkest black fading to white then to a sky blue. She hit something hard and looked up. Buffy saw a face she had seen only in her dreams. "Gandy." Her fingers felt feathers beneath her. "Going to sleep now." Buffy passed out.
Gandalf looked at the small body on the back of the eagle and smiled. "I was wondering if you were going to show up." He almost laughed, hearing her name for him. Only from her would he allow that. She was back the little Imp. He knew she would come when their need was the greatest. This was not what he expected but it would do. He turned the great eagle toward Rivendell and safety, for now. Gandalf carried the small body down the halls of Lord Elrond's palace.
Arwen rushed up to him and led him into a beautiful room. "Gandalf what happened? Who is she? What injuries are there that I may help?" The beautiful dark-haired elf asked.
"Arwen, I will answer all I can, only she is in need of your healing touch now," he pleaded her. He laid her gently on the bed and moved out-of-the-way. Standing at the foot of the bed, he watched Arwen work on Buffy's bruised pale body.
What happened to her? Would that she would awaken and tease me for worrying? Was I wrong in trusting her to the Valar? I know there was no other choice. They needed her for this battle. But what did they do to her that she does not awaken, that she lies still as death, as pale as a ghost does. She is so important to the future of the journey to come, to all of Middle Earth.
Arwen crushed herbs into a cup and placed it to Buffy's lips. She poured it slowly down her throat. Arwen eased the healing brew down a sip at a time, massaging Buffy's throat as she went. Setting the cup aside, she brushed the long blond hair from the small woman's face. Looking closely she gasped then looked at Gandalf; her large blue eyes questioned him.
He extended his hand to her and they stepped away from the bed. Gandalf peering deeply into Arwen's eyes nodding his head.
"But how? That cannot be, Mother would have told me, if twere true. What is her name? How did she come to be here?"
"Her name is Ariel and she left Middle Earth long before your mother's birth. Galadriel, never spoke her name again, that I can remember."
"Where has she been all this time? She is a human barely even a woman," Arwen asked.
"I do not know all the answers; perhaps we can learn them together," he sighed.
Buffy started thrashing on the bed; they turned back to her. She was moving about as if fighting some unknown force, tears streamed down her face. Her opened mouth made no sound. It looked as if she were screaming silently. Her body was in constant motion, and then it went still.
Arwen rushed to her fearful she had stopped breathing.
Buffy found herself in a dreamscape of her lives. The time on Middle Earth as a small child, Gandalf taking her to the Valar. Her life with them, such a longtime on that plane of nowhere but everywhere. They prepared her for her fate, her destiny. Born human on a different Earth and becoming a slayer. The sacrifice she made to save Dawn, which returned her full circle back to Middle Earth. Her dreams as a child of faces, places all of it fell into place in her mind. They opened her awareness, her consciousness, to her previous lives here and with them. Now, they were trying to strip away her memories of her current life as Buffy Anne Summers. No family, friends or memories of Earth left to distract her from this destiny.
She screamed and shot up off the bed. "No I won't let you. You sent me there gave me that life; it is mine. They are my memories to keep. Just stop it right now, damn you, damn you all. I lived there, learned love there and I will keep them."
Gandalf and Arwen looked at her as if she had lost her wits. He rushed to hold her to him. "Ariel, it is all right. You are safe at home now. You are back, my little Imp," Gandalf murmured.
"Gandy, why? Why did you leave me there?" She cried out, her voice a mere whisper.
"I had to, Imp, for your safety. For everyone here now, who has need of you."
"Who is she, Gandy?" He grinned, always curious his Imp, no matter what was happening.
"This is Arwen, the daughter of Lord Elrond, our host. Her mother was Celebrian, daughter of Galadriel and Celeborn. Celebrian passed on many years past." Gandalf explained Arwen history to Buffy.
Buffy looked at Arwen closely and could see something of Dawn in her big blue eyes. Her high cheekbones and the shape of her face resembled Buffy's. The mouth was the only feature she didn't recognize. Must be from her father, that and her long dark hair.
"Hello, Arwen, just call me Buffy, okay."
"Buffy, what name is this? I have never heard the like, even in Westron," Arwen asked.
Buffy laughed at the elf's puzzled look. Every name had a certain meaning and there wasn't one for hers. "It is from a land unknown to you. But, it is the name that I am used to. No matters what the Power's try to do. I am more stubborn than even they realize."
"I do not understand? Who are these Powers, you speak of?" Arwen looked at this strange young woman trying to understand all she had heard.
"Where I was the Valar were known as the Powers That Be or the Powers for short. I had a new name and a new life. My name was Buffy Anne Summers. When they sent me back here, they decided that no longer needed to remember that life. I won't let that happen they are mine. I lived them each and everyone. I had friends, family and lovers. I won't forget them. Do you hear me? So stop it right now." Buffy yelled at the ceiling.
"Can you see them too?" The beautiful dark-haired elf looked up at the ceiling trying to see what the strange girl yelled at.
"No, but they are always watching. So, they should get the point." She shook a fist at the ceiling then turned back to Arwen.
Gandalf laughed, "Imp you have only gotten more stubborn with age." Buffy stuck out her tongue at him.
"Now, where were we? Oh yeah, even if I am older than you technically, physically we are closer in age. So, how about we try being friends?" She smiled brightly at her 'niece'.
"I think, I would like that. I live in a house of men. Besides father, there are my brother's, Elladan and Elrohir." She smiled back at the little blonde. Arwen looked at her closely. With her fine bone structure and large eyes, she could pass as an elf. If not for her height and ears, the golden color of her skin seen on elves that lived closer to the coast. Though it was rare, it was not unheard-of to see that tone. She was beautiful, Arwen thought. She could see her grandmother in her.
Buffy leaned back in the bed; the weariness had returned to her face.
"We shall leave you to rest, Imp." Gandalf leaned down to kiss her head.
Gandalf was passing by her room and heard Buffy cry out. Rushing in, he found her trying to get out of bed. "Gandy, the little one has been injured. He needs help; get me a horse," Buffy ordered.
"You must not go Imp. You are too weak."
"I am fine. Now get me a horse." Her voice held a note of steel.
Arwen quietly entered the room. "I will go. Tell me where and what has happened." Arwen's heart clenched hearing her describe Aragon. She turned, flying from the room.
Buffy raised an eyebrow at Gandalf. "The ranger you described is her lover. He is human but they love each other very much. Arwen will bring back Frodo; do not worry Imp. Now, would you like to walk around and see Rivendell. Slowly" he stressed.
"Yes, I hate being cooped up in bed."
He laughed at her and went to the door. A maid came in carrying a beautiful dress of pale yellow. She laid it on the bed then asked Buffy if she needed any help to dress. Buffy smiled, shaking her head no. She noticed a screen and a large basin with soap with clean cloths.
Gandalf knocked on the door about a half hour later.
"Come in." He stepped into the room to see her standing in a shaft of sunlight. He caught his breathe; she was glowingly beautiful. She was a grown woman; he realized, his little Imp was gone. She stoof there with Elven braids Beside each of her ears looking every inch an Elven lady.
Buffy twirled around in the dress. "Will I do kind sir? I would not want to embarrass you," she giggled. "It is a beautiful dress, isn't it, Gandy?"
"Yes child, almost as beautiful as the one wearing it. You have become as beautiful as your mother." His eyes twinkled as he smiled.
"Shall we go and check out this place?" She took his arm as they left the room.
Rivendell was beautiful. She was awed by all the sights. They walked by a large room and stopped.
"Let me introduce you to Lord Elrond." Gandalf escorted her into the room.
A tall elf with long black hair turned from looking out the balcony. Arwen does have his mouth. "Elrond, my friend, I bring you company," Gandalf grinned.
He was a striking looking man. There was something about him that let a person know he was someone important. It was in his eyes and the way he carried himself. He waved them into the room as he moved over to join them at some chairs.
"Come in my old friend. It is good to see you, once again. I am only saddened that troublesome times are the cause of our meeting. Who is your charming companion? She seems familiar to me." He looked at Buffy with piercing blue eyes, which seemed as if they could see into her mind. He waited patiently for Gandalf to provide the information he sought. She admired his poise and patience. It was as if he knew he would learn everything if he only waited.
"This is Buffy. She is here to help us fight the coming darkness," Gandalf explained.
Elrond's head turned back to her and his eyes widened. "She is only a human, barely more than a child."
"Right here in the room, ya know."
"Things are not always what they appear. You know that better than most," Gandalf rebuked.
"Forgive me Buffy. It is just the thought of Arwen having a fate such as yours. I could not bare it."
"Your not suppose to bare her fate, she is. You are to support her and love her. If you don't know that, then I misjudged the man you are." Buffy turned to leave the room.
"Please wait child, I apologize. Come back and let us have peace between us," Elrond implored.
Buffy returned and sat back down looking at him closely. "Please don't call me child, just Buffy. I have to put up with Imp from Gandy, as it is."
"Gandy?" His eyebrow rose.
"Erm, well, it was her childhood name for me. The Imp couldn't say my name properly; so she shortened it. Now I imagine I am stuck with it, as well."
"You bet ya. Not to mention El, I think I am older than you are. Aren't I, Gandy?" She wrinkled her nose trying to figure out her age in Middle Earth, Higher Plane and Earth years. I don't think that they make calculators that big anywhere. "Oh well, I guess I will just start over and use the age I can easiest count. Otherwise, it gives me a headache trying to figure it all out. Cuz, I think I'm even older than you, Gandy."
"What do you mean Imp? You make no sense."
"Something about the way time moves differently on the Powers plane than here. I was there a longtime, too long" she sighed.
He looked away sadly. "I am sorry Imp; there was no other choice. No other way to save you, so you could save us."
Buffy took his hands in hers. "I know."
"Please tell me, what is going on here? I do not understand, Gandalf," Elrond demanded.
"My friend, this must stay among us, for the safety of us all."
He looked at Buffy and she nodded. Buffy began to breathe deeply through her nose and out of her mouth. The two men watched her, in fascination, as a golden mist surrounded them. She opened her eyes and looked at them.
"No one can hear anything that we say now. Gandy, please start the story and I will tell you both what I can. What they have allowed me to see, so far."
Gandalf told of Galadriel seeing her child's importance and him taking her to the Valar. Buffy spoke of the many years of growing up among the Powers. She explained about them training her but didn't provide any details. Her going to Earth to become a slayer and the sacrifice, which brought her here to them.
"They sent me back to you, Gandy. My dreams will lead us through our quest. Your little friend is here and very close to death." Buffy stood and ran from the room. The mist fell away and the two men quickly followed her.
Frodo was lain on the just as Buffy threw open the door. She saw that Arwen hovered near him.
"He is close to crossing over, it may be too late." Buffy moved her aside. "What are you doing? You will injure him," Arwen cried.
Gandalf stopped her. "Do not interfere, Arwen. There is much more to Buffy then even I know."
Buffy ripped the clothes from Frodo so she could see the wound. She leaned down kissing it then laid her hands on it. Opening Frodo's mouth, Buffy blew a white mist down his throat. Her hands began to glow a bright white; she moved them down his wound. She hoped she remembered everything.
The skin began to knit together forming into thin line. The line disappeared as color ran back into his skin, returning it to its normal color. Buffy opened his eyelid watching the white recede until his eyes were once again bright blue.
"By what magic is this?" Arwen exclaimed, she had never seen anything like it before.
Buffy sighed and sat down the floor. Pulling the covers over Frodo but held his hand at all times. The others watched her; she seemed to be willing him to wake.
Frodo's head moved slowly then his eyes opened. Turning his head, there was a woman with blonde hair and large hazel eyes. She was holding his hand and brushing back his hair. "Are you a fairy?" He asked in wonder.
"No, just Buffy. You were very sick but you are going to be okay. Go to sleep, I will be here when you wake up."
Frodo closed his eyes; there was a smile on his sweet face.
"He will be all right now, Gandy. Frodo should sleep through the night and be fine by the morning. Could someone bring me a chair? Then everyone please leave." Her request was polite but firm.
"Buffy, you can't order around my father. He is the ruler here," Arwen scolded.
"Not in this room, not of me. Now shoo." Buffy looked at them with hard eyes. The warrior in her, the protector was looking back at them.
Elrond and Arwen left but Gandalf stayed.
"Don't push me Gandy, go" she said in a voice that was almost a whisper.
He felt it down his spine then nodded. "By the fires of Mordor what has she become?"
Buffy slept in a chair holding Frodo's hand all night long. To complete the healing it required them to remain connected. She woke when she felt him stir; she moved to sit on the edge of the bed. "Good morning Frodo. How do you feel?" Buffy smiled down into the bluest eyes she thought she had ever seen.
"I feel wonderful, thank you ever so, milady."
"Buffy, just Buffy. We are old friends now; surely, we should be on first name basis. After all we spent the night together." His face turned a bright red and she laughed. "I'm just teasing you silly. I watched over you as you slept. I would like to be your friend. We are going to need as many as we can find in the days to come," Buffy said sadly.
"I would be honored to be your friend Buffy." Frodo smiled, his beautiful blue eyes shining bright and happy.
Just then, the door burst open and a stocky hobbit with shaggy blond hair ran in. "Mister Frodo, sir, are you all right? Gandalf said you were, but I couldn't believe lest I saw with my own eyes. Why look at you; you are the picture of health, sir. How did this miracle happen?" Sam asked, he could hardly believe his eyes. "Oh my, I'm sorry, milady. I didn't see you there. Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Samwise Gamgee, Mister Frodo's gardener and sworn protector. I guess, I didn't too well at that but I will do better. I promise."
"I am pleased to meet you, Sam. I'm Buffy and I think Frodo is lucky to have such a true and courageous friend as you." Buffy kissed his cheek.
Sam looked at her in awe touching his cheek. His cheeks turned bright red and his feet shuffled, shyly. "Mister Frodo is the one with all the courage, Lady Buffy, not me."
Two more hobbits ran in, mischief shone bright in their eyes. "Frodo you are okay? Look at you in a bed fit for a king."
"Is it bouncy? I bet it is." They looked at each other and in a single bound were on the bed as if joined at the hips.
Buffy marched over snatching the closest one out of midair, setting him on the ground. The other she caught by his ear just as his bottom landed on the mattress. Looking at them sternly, "He has only just recovered. Didn't your mother ever teach you not to jump on furniture?" She scolded.
"Buffy meet Merry and Pippin. Trouble seems to find them no matter where they go." Frodo tried not to laugh.
"You are really pretty. To bad you aren't a hobbit," Pippin said.
"She looks mad Pip. Don't make her any madder," Merry whispered loudly.
"I'm Buffy and we will get along just fine. As long as you wait until Frodo is out of bed." They nod and smile moving toward the door. "I'll know if you try to sneak back in," she warned.
Looking at each other as if she had read their minds, they ran from the room.
"I will leave you in Sam's capable hands while I go clean up some and eat. I will be by to check on you later." Buffy kissed him on the forehead; she left closing the door.
"She is beautiful," Sam said.
"She saved me Sam and wants to be my friend. I have a feeling once Buffy is your friend you have one for life. Kind of like you, Sam. Are you well?"
"Oh, don't you worry about ole Sam, Mister Frodo. I'm from hardy stock. I'll be by your side until we are back in the Shire, living side by side again" he smiled.
Buffy bathed then changed her dress. She had decided to explore Rivendell, hoping to work out the kinks of last night vigil. Buffy walked through the castle, city, town, gardens and forests. She walked into a clearing where several elves were having target practice. The one closest to her had pale gold hair with white glowing skin. He was much better hitting the target than the others, who were all good themselves.
Legolas felt someone watching him as his last arrow flew he turned. A tiny girl, no woman with long dark golden hair, golden skin and the largest hazel eyes he had ever seen stood there. He smiled walking over to her "Are you lost?"
"Nope just watching, you're good."
"Of course, all elves are good with a bow," he answered, matter-of-factly.
Cute but stuck up, much. "Do you mind if I try?" She smiled.
"You would not be able to pull this bow," he stated.
"How about if I nnot only pull it but best your score. Then, I get to keep it," she dared.
Legolas raised an eyebrow at her. This was his favorite bow, he had made it himself like his father had taught him. He looked at her smirking, "Fine there is my target all of my arrows are plain to see. Use the next target and beat that."
Buffy took the bow and held it in two hands to feel its balance. She pulled the string testing the tension then nodded. "Gonna need some arrows, Keebler."
He looked at her in confusion then went to recover his second quiver. He handed them to her. Legolas stood directly behind her, noticing that others were gathering to watch. No one had ever beaten him with a bow before.
Buffy lined up the first arrow and released it. She watched closely as it hit the center but towards the outer edge. Legolas chuckled behind her. She lined up her next arrow; it hit dead center of the target. Several in the crowd clapped for her, politely.
"You do shoot well, for a woman. But, you will have to do much better to beat me."
Buffy looked over her shoulder with a grin, "Keep talking Keebler." She held the quiver between her thighs pulling her dress between her knees. The elves appreciated the view of golden calves. She created a pouch for her arrows. Then she began to shoot rapidly one after the other. The others watched in wonder as the arrows flew towards the target. One barely sunk in before another reached its goal. Buffy pulled the quiver out releasing her dress and shook it out.
She handed the bow to Legolas, who was still staring at the target. Each of Buffy's arrows were direct in the bull's-eye, one on top of the other, until the last one landed. It resembled a fan or a flower. The last one stood straight out and the ones below it fanned around its base.
She started walking away when Legolas went to catch her. "Wait don't you want the bow you won it fairly?"
"Nope just knew you wouldn't let me try unless you thought I couldn't do it. It's a nice bow. The balance is off on the right side. If you shaved the a little off it would do better." Buffy walked off as he looked down at the bow in his hand.
When he looked back up Buffy was nowhere in sight. Who is she? What is her name? More importantly, how do I find her again?
Messengers went throughout Rivendell to request attendance at a council. Gandalf escorted Buffy, personally. He only hoped, she would keep her temper. She told him about last night and about the arrogant elf, she had met. Looking at her closely she seemed troubled when he asked she only shook her head. Buffy hugged her friend to her walking with him.
Her dreams were troubling. She already knew who would survive, who wouldn't and who would forever be chan Joyce would hug her close, saying the princess was watching over her because she was so special. Buffy smiled at the memory.
The dreams showed her the future, but not when anything would happen or where. She knew the Powers were telling her the things that must happen for Middle Earth to be saved. Buffy wished there was someway to change some or any of it. She had finally learned that fate and destiny was a tightly woven pattern. Pull one thread and it could all fall apart.
They sat down waiting for Elrond to speak. "We have come here in a time of great darkness. The ring has once again caught Sauron's eye. It must be destroyed, Frodo bring it forth."
Frodo walked up and put the ring down on a pillar. Leaving it, he returned to his seat with a sigh. His shoulders had great weight lifted from them.
Boromir stood. "Why not use the ring against him to raise an army?" The other's all started to fight over who had the most rights to the ring. Then a dwarf tried to destroy it. He started a fight with the elf from yesterday.
Buffy heard Frodo's soft voice. "I will take it to Mordor." She was able to put names to faces from her dreams then her temper suddenly snapped.
She marched up pushing Legolas and Gimli apart. They flew backwards as she moved onto the next group.
Her eyes were shooting green sparks when Boromir's voice rang out. "Who is this woman who interferes in men's business?" He walked up taking her arm to escort her away from the council. Buffy moved swiftly sweeping his feet out from under him. She bent down grabbing an arm and a leg picking him up then tossed him onto a patch of grass. Her hands rubbed together as she turned back to the others hands on her hips.
"Now sit down and shut up before I really get pissed off. Frodo has something to say."
Everyone sat, even Boromir after he limped back to the council area. Elrond wasn't sure what would happen next; he was sure it wouldn't be boring.
"I will take the ring to Mordor, but I do not know the way," Frodo said, quietly.
"I will show you, you have my sword," Aragorn pledged.
All of them pledged their fealty and strength to the quest.
Then Buffy walked up to Frodo. "I will go with you Frodo. You have my strength." Someone made as if to protest, Buffy glared out at the crowd, "You will have all that I can offer you, my friend." Frodo smiled at her.
"You shall be known as the Fellowship of the Ring," Elrond said.
"Cool will we get T-shirts and stuff?" Buffy asked.
The next day as they prepared to leave, they walked to the stable to find mounts.
Buffy had loved to ride since she was a little girl. It was another reason she had hated moving to Sunnydale; she couldn't bring her horse. He was a beautiful palomino, named Silver. Her dad had loved the Lone Ranger as a kid; so the name was for was for him. He had almost had a heart attack, the first time she recreated the famous exit. She begged and pleaded to keep Silver until her mom finally admitted they couldn't afford it anymore.
Buffy stopped and Frodo ran into her back. "Buffy are you okay?"
"Silver?" She rushed to a horse who whinnied at her. He was a tall proud stallion, one of the stable hands tried to move the horse out of a stall. The horse bucked and pulled at the lead rope. Buffy rushed forward. Afraid the horse would trample her Legolas tried to stop her.
"She will be killed. That woman has no sense. That horse has not allowed anyone to ride him."
He moved forward to try to help but Aragorn stopped him. "Looks like he just needed the right person to handle him." Legolas looked where his friend was pointing.
The horse followed Buffy like a puppy. She tethered it to a post murmuring to it. The golden stallion's head shook up and down, as if in agreement. They all watched the golden haired woman and the horse so close in coloring, as they bonded.
Buffy grabbed a blanket laying it lovingly across his back as she continued talking to him.
"You can't take that horse. He isn't broken to the saddle," Legolas protested.
"I can and will Keebler. So back the hell off." The stallion stomped his hoofs as if in protest. "Shush, baby its okay. The mean man is going away and we will fly again." She caressed the horse lovingly as her voice held a singsong quality.
"Gandalf, tell her it is too dangerous." Legolas appealed to the wizard.
"Young prince, it is best not to tell my Imp to do anything. Chances are you will get the opposite result or the sharp edge of her tongue. Leave her be before you make it worse." Gandalf walked past to find his own mount.
Buffy mounted up taking off like a shot. The others only saw the blur of her golden hair as it flew out behind her. Jumping the wall, they ran full out towards a field. Watching they saw the horse rear up and gasped. Her laughter rang out over the crisp morning air, as she whipped the horse around sending them back towards the stables.
With her face and eyes sparkling with joy, she stopped in front of them.
The men all stare at the beautiful sight she made.
"Frodo come ride with me. Silver can take our weight and we can talk." He walked over to reach up for her hand, as she easily pulled him onto the horse behind her. "Well come on guys, don't we have a ring to melt."
Legolas looked after her then to Gandalf. "Her behavior is most unbecoming. She wears clothes like a man, fights, and rides as if she is part horse. What manner of person have you brought among us?"
"You complain a lot, young Prince. I thought you were worried she couldn't handle the horse. Now, you are angry she handles it so well. As for her clothes, she wouldn't be helpful on this journey in a dress. You should make up your mind Legolas. Exactly what are you angry about?" Gandalf rode off after Buffy and Frodo.
Gimli crawled up behind the elf. "She would make a fine dwarf, if she weren't so tall. I could even overlook no facial hair." Legolas scowled then took off, causing the dwarf to have to hold on tight.
Aragorn smiled. He had a feeling his friend was in trouble.
Boromir rode bedside Aragorn, each of them had a hobbit behind them. "She is an interesting woman isn't she?"
"I think more than even Gandalf knows," the heir of Gondor replied.
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