Journey's End

Pairings: There are some book pairings.

Events: This fiction is one that follows the path of Rohan through the end of the War of the Ring. Beyond the end of the story, there are chapters concerning the first few years of the Fourth Age, after the passing of the Ringbearers into the West.

Disclaimer: J.R.R. Tolkien owns 'The Lord of the Rings' book series. Joss Whedon controls the world of Buffy. Peter Jackson and company own 'The Lord of the Rings' films. We only own a part of the plot.

Summary: Complete. Buffy is summoned to fulfill an oath before she can rest in peace.

In Gratitude: We really do appreciate our readers… thank you so much for your dedication, your kindness and everything else. It would be nice to try another unconventional pairing again, because there are many, may choices out there.

Chapter Summary: The beginning of a new era… and the end of a journey.

Chapter Warning: Unlike the past chapter, which was actually lengthy, this is really short. Hence, it's an epilogue.

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Epilogue

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"… so that's Faith. I think you'd agree that she was a little on the over-emotional side of things… but she was so scared about showing anything that she tried to hide it behind this wild child act. It really didn't fit her. She was a lot better than she thought she was…"

"I'm glad you told me about her," Elena said, glancing down at the figure crossing the bridge next to her. Her arms were held level as she stepped one foot in front of the other on the bridge's rail, her concentration on not falling into the wading pool below. Buffy walked slowly beside her, a basket held behind her as the woman bounced lightly on her feet. They were spending one of their days together at Isengard, or what remained of Saruman's fortress. The Ents had turned it into a large realm of gardens with Orthanc tower in the center. Buffy often took her leave to the far west and Isengard sort of reminded her of the sub-tropical California parks, only about thirty degrees cooler. She had never taken Elena with her before, though. She had chosen to this day because it had been awhile since she'd seen her adopted daughter.

Elena reached the end of the rail and Buffy leaned over, plucking the girl into her arms. As Elena was aging, though, she was already up to Buffy's shoulder. Despite the fact that they were from different blood, Elena did remarkably resemble her adopted mother. Once her feet were firmly on the ground again, she took Buffy's hand, dragging her down the steep incline towards the pool. After Buffy had spread out her blanket and set out their lunch before she continued her life story.

"So, tell me about the other Slayers? What were they like?"

After a refreshing lunch and watching Elena splash through the pool, Buffy felt contented and quite sleepy. Rolling onto her back, she watched as upside-down Elena continued to swim through the pool, her laughter ringing musically in Buffy's ears. After a moment though, Elena turned and splashed her. Sitting up as she was doused in icy water, she fixed Elena with a glare. The small girl froze, water dripping from the ends of her long, fair plait. "Oh," she said softly as Buffy slowly got to her feet, glancing down at her long tunic and trousers, sprinkled with tiny droplets.

"You are so gonna get it," Buffy growled playfully before leaping into the pool. Shrieking, Elena dove out of the way, but not fast enough. Buffy was always much, much faster than she tried to be. Then again, she was one of these Slayer things.

After playing in the water for awhile, the two women stole onto shore. Elena collapsed, panting. Buffy just sat down, wringing the water from her own hair, which had been pulled back in a long braid, too. Within minutes, Elena was asleep. Buffy took advantage of her daughter's drowsiness to check around their small area. She had visited the whole of Isengard, but had only run into a few Ents, who were the new guardians.

It was then she felt the ground tremble beneath her feet. Spinning around, she saw dust rising to the east. Lifting her hand, she spied two riders making their way rapidly towards Isengard. She quickly stole back across the bridge and down towards the pool where Elena was curled peacefully beneath Buffy's cloak. "Elena," she breathed, nudging the small girl. "Wake up… we've got company."

Elena stirred but did not awaken. As she now heard the sound of splashing water, she smoothed her still-dripping hair and glanced down at herself. Well, some Queen she turned out to be, she thought dryly. She looked like she had been splashing her way through all the pools. Taking a dignified breath, she saw her new horse and the small pony they had taken from Helm's Deep. They were too far away and the other horses were now within normal vision. She dashed up the rocks just as both riders crossed the bridge and slid from their horses, coming to stop directly in front of her.

"The beacons," one panted, holding out a hand to her, "the beacons have been lit."

Her body immediately tensed. She knew exactly what this meant; they had to respond to a potentially dangerous situation. "Where is he?" she asked, her mind switching directions automatically.

"He will meet you at Helm's Deep with the rest of our full force, my lady," the second replied. Buffy turned and fixed him with a stern look.

"You must forgive him," the first replied softly. "He is new and does not yet understand the way of things." As Buffy turned to regard a stirring Elena below, the first guard elbowed the second guard roughly in the ribs, all the while hissing "You fool – if you wish to remain at your post, you must treat her as you would treat your sister!"

Buffy grinned at these words as she hopped out of sight. The second guard gave an alarmed cry; the first merely restrained from rolling his eyes.

Elena was pushing herself up, rubbing sleep from her eyes. "What is it?"

"Time to go," Buffy replied, stuffing the basket and grabbing Elena's hand with significant force. "We've got company."

"What is it?" Elena repeated, looking concerned as Buffy dragged her up the rocks.

"I don't know," she replied as they reached the bridge. Both men looked appalled at the sight of the young girl standing next to their Queen, yet they both nodded. "She'll need to get back to Helm's Deep."

"The rest of the rearguard will ride from the north," the second guard replied, hoping to redeem himself. "I will take her."

Buffy turned and pinned him with her gaze again. "I don't know," she said slowly, realizing she could play with the smart little upstart for a bit. "She's almost eight… she might be too much for you to handle."

"Surely not!" the man gasped, watching as the little girl made faces at him from behind her mother's tunics. "I know that she is under your protective care."

"She's a bit much for a grown boy to handle," Buffy drawled, enjoying the red flush creeping up the man's neck. The first guard, one who rode with her often, just rolled his eyes and smirked. "And if she falls off her pony or gets lost, the King would get awfully cranky."

Elena stuck her fingers in her lips and pulled her mouth wide and slack, wagging her tongue at the poor second guard. He looked as though he were seconds away from collapse.

"My… my lady," he spluttered, ducking his head and backing hastily away, only to run into his horse. "I-I would never let s-such a thing happen to your ch-child…"

"Relax, private," Buffy said, giving him what she hoped was a welcoming smile. The poor man just let out a tiny peep and ducked behind his horse. "I was just giving you a hard time… you know, training you up. Just stick with the lieutenant here," she continued, gesturing to the first guard, "and you'll be a captain in no time."

"It is an honor to serve her majesty's guard," the second guard said quietly, creeping out from his hiding place.

"Yeah, yeah," the first guard said, waving him over, "let us stop with the praise. You volunteered to return Elena to Helm's Deep ere we meet with the rearguard. Take her now by the safest road and get her safely to Freya at Helm's Deep. She will care for her while we ride off to the aid of Gondor."

The second guard nodded, gave Buffy an apologetic smile, and beckoned the girl forward.

Buffy stopped Elena from moving and both men turned away to give their Queen and her daughter privacy.

"Mummy?" Elena asked in a horrified whisper. "The beacons are lit… will you ride to war?"

"I don't know what we'll find," Buffy said, pulling Elena into her arms. "I want you to be good for Freya now. And don't give Private Nutcase any grief now… whatever you do, stay with him. If something happens to him, just sit tight. We'll find you."

"Mummy, suddenly I am afraid," Elena whispered, clinging to her mother. "I fear I will never see you nor Father again."

"Don't be afraid," Buffy said with a vicious smile. "Nothing can stand between us and them. You know your father… he lives for this sort of thing. And so do I."

Elena then went willingly with the second guard. Buffy and the first guard watched as Elena's pony bobbed into the distance before they took their own horses and rode east. Then, the pair exchanged a quick look.

"So, what's the what?" she asked him finally.

"Little is known except the southern border has been attacked," the first guard replied solemnly. "I did not wish to worry you."

"Or Private Nutcase… where did you dig him up from?"

"You should see the numbers signing up to join the Queen's elite guard," the first lieutenant said proudly.

"Just swell," Buffy muttered as she reached her horse and quickly mounted her. The first guard watched her in awe, wondering how someone so small could move so quickly. "Well, let's get to it."

The two rode off across the plains until they came upon Erkenbrand's forces. The rearguard soon thundered their way into Helm's Deep. Once she arrived, she was told by the guard of the gate that her daughter had been removed from Helm's Deep and taken back to Edoras. She thanked him. He then gestured her into the Keep where Éomer was preparing. Taking a deep breath, she removed her riding cloak and walked into the room. He was standing just inside the door with his captains. As soon as he heard the door open, he turned to glance over at her. "You're late."

"So sorry," she breezily replied, draping her cloak across a bench and running a hand through windblown hair. "What's going on?"

"I will speak with her alone," Éomer announced to the room full of captains and Marshals. They quickly nodded, bowed their heads respectively and then cleared the room.

"What was that?" Buffy asked, alarmed.

"It is the return of a long-fought foe," Éomer replied gravely. "The Corsairs have returned to the south of Gondor. The beacons have been lit. Although I am certain that our full force is not needed…"

"It'd be best to show 'em what we got," Buffy grinned.

"Why must you always make light of such things?"

"It's what I do when we're always facing death and destruction," she retorted, folding her arms. "If I go into battle so serious, I'm liable to do something stupid unless I lighten things up."

"You do not need to ride," he said, concern etched on his face.

"Hey," Buffy replied softly, reaching up to touch his face with one chilled hand. "Don't give me this 'you stay behind because you're the lady' speech again. I can handle myself. For better or worse, remember? You go, I go? I'm not staying behind… not when the future of our world is at stake."

He gave a loud resigned sigh and dropped his head. "My apologies."

"Apologize later," she replied, forcing his chin up with a lift of her hand. "Go to battle now."

He nodded. "Of course."

"That's my King," she said in a mock, baby voice. He just rolled his eyes as she moved towards the doorway. "See you in the fields… one hour?"

"The men will be marshaled by then," Éomer agreed, watching as she swept regally out.

Once she retreated to her tiny room, she managed to get her armor on after changing out of her damp clothing and placing on the warmest clothing yet. Slipping on her boots, she straightened, pulling down the thick red armor she wore. It was probably Éomer's or Theodred's when they were children, she realized ruefully. She couldn't wait until her metallic armor arrived. She was about to reach for her vest when a throat cleared behind her. She turned and saw her former lieutenant standing there, his face glowing. "My lady, why wear you those old rags?" he asked quietly, enjoying the look on her face. "You should wear your armor."

"This is my armor," she replied, gesturing to what little she had put on.

"Are you certain it is not this?" he asked gleefully, taking out a full vest of metallic armor that glistened in what little sunlight remained. Buffy let out a small gasp and nearly rushed him, plucking the vest from his outstretched fingers.

"This is awesome!" she whispered, removing her dagger and plunging it towards the chest of her armor. Watching her sharp knife slide away from the armor cracked another smile on her face. "Oh, beautiful!"

"I am glad you approve," the man said, smiling slightly. "When you are prepared, we will ride in the fields awaiting your Majesty."

She gave him a level look before nodding, but not before adding, "The next time you call me that, I'll demote you back to Lieutenant, Captain," she smirked, watching his eyes widen. "Not everyone can lead my personal guard."

He nodded and bowed his way from her waiting room. Once he was out, she dove towards her vest and replaced her old, outdated armor with her new vest. When she tucked her head out, she found new trousers, mail, boots and even a new artillery belt with knives, swords and a spanking new bow awaiting her. "Someone loves me today," she sighed happily as she finished tying on her new belt and slipping her arrow over her back. Once she was certain everything was in place, she walked from the Keep towards the place where her horse was waiting.

As soon as the doors to the Hornburg opened, Buffy rode down the ramp into a vast area with thousands of riders awaiting them. Her Captain and her elite guard rode up to surround her as her horse galloped into the valley. Spying Éomer slightly ahead, she rode until she was at his side. He glanced at her once before doing a double-take. She smirked slightly at his dazed reaction. "Yeah, I know I look good," she said smartly as they started to ride forward.

"One might actually mistake you for royalty," he jested.

"One could," she admitted, smoothing the sheer metal sleeves on her arms. Seeing the vast numbers of horses gathered around them, she held her breath a moment before releasing it. "So… where to?"

"Dunharrow."

"Oh, great," she murmured.

"We need to gather the full strength of our forces," he reminded her quickly as he lifted his arm to motion to his First Marshal.

"Yeah, because we don't want to overwhelm them or anything," Buffy muttered, whipping her horse around. Everything behind them was complete chaos. Sighing, she rode forwards, leaving Éomer alone at the head of the column. "Come on, you slowpokes! We have a deadline to keep! Ride on! Come on, get your butts on your horses and move! That's it!" she shouted, her horse now trotting backwards away from the sudden deluge of an entire army coming at it. Spinning around, her horse reared but Buffy clung neatly onwards as it shot forward, sprinting ahead of the King.

Seeing it as yet another challenge given to him, he nudged his horse onwards and soon caught up with her. The ground trembled underneath the full force of the Rohirrim, headed by both their King and Queen.

Suddenly she felt a familiar feeling in her abdomen and turned towards Helm's Deep. The last time she'd had a feeling like this, she knew she was never going to see it again. And now that she frequented this outpost more than Meduseld lately, the feelings had gone away. Perhaps this time she knew it was because they rode for war. Perhaps this time she knew it was because not everyone would be riding back.

This is what she had received, she thought dryly as they continued to plunder on to the south. It was heartbreaking, knowing how many would likely die in whichever skirmish they got into next. Not everyone could survive. That was a lesson she had learned back in Sunnydale.

But she had this life; she had chosen it. She had chosen to be this mystical, destined Slayer as well as a Queen, a Marshal and, surprisingly, a wife. All she had to do was find the right balance. As long as she had her sword, she could do anything she wanted. She could do just about anything.

And she would. The Sunnydale Slayer was gone… the battle-hardened young woman had been replaced by a mature, responsible(ish) figure capable of leading thousands… dedicated to her mother country… and yet, the sacrifices which this world would soon ask for… yes, she would.

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The End.