Epilogue: The Beginning in the End

The field had transformed from the last time Buffy had been there. There was no battling a Witch-King for one thing. There may be no massive battle taking place no but that did not mean everything was peaceful. There were several leaders of groups now taking up tents there. They had been arriving for the coronation ceremony for the last few days. Buffy had organised things like a boss. Her mother had been a gallery manager and hosted many parties, this she could do.

On the upside, a sudden switch from warrior to hostess was freaking out many. So there was a double bonus right there. The Elves were fun and she had sparred with a few of them in the morning. The fun part was where she and Legolas had made fun wagers before they knew of her abilities. The trick had lasted two mornings before people became wise to her abilities.

It meant she had a lot of energy to burn. "No one will spar with me."

Aragorn looked up from the report given to him by a scout. "I told you if you break them no one would want to spar with you."

Buffy knew this but still she pouted at the injustice. "Yeah but how will they get better if I don't show them?"

Aragorn knew Buffy would work well with him training the new Gondor force that he was forming. He wanted something similar in structure to the Rohan army. This was a new age but he would not allow any evil to come up and take it away. "Look on the brightside."

He stepped closer, pulling Buffy into his embrace. He whispered into her ear, "Tomorrow we will just have the land to rule and no guests."

Buffy snorted, "Hey don't start. All tents are up, any and all requests are complete ... I even managed to keep hated people/groups away from each other."

It was was more complicated than that. You had blood feuds and falling outs that she had managed to separate out. It was easier once she put Elves on one side, the folk from Bardstown in another and the dwarves on the other side. And then because she was evil, she delegated the rest of it to Faramir.

The Steward looked pained when she informed him of the plan. He asked with no small amount of sass,

"Can I take on something less volatile?"

Buffy shook her head, "Sorry eyeball guy is dead. You are just left with keeping the peace between the Elves and the Dwarves." She patted him on the shoulder, "Good luck."

Faramir frowned, wondering who his Queen meant by eyeball guy? He stood stock still in shock, "Did you just call Sauron eyeball guy?"

Buffy smirked, "Who cares? He is a dead eyeball guy."

Well he couldn't argue with the logic. "As you say my Lady ... Are you ready for the ceremony?"

Buffy smirked, "I can assure you the ladies of court would not let me get away if I wasn't."

Buffy was using a robe to protect the gown she was wearing for the ceremony. She had no desire to subject herself to the poking and prodding again. She loved the gown picked as it would make Aragorn swallow his tongue. It was like the gown she'd worn in the Golden Halls not so long ago.

Faramir was smart enough to recognise the mischievous look. He knew his King would be at her mercy. He felt no pity as the consensus was the Queen was one amazing woman. All were glad she was soon to be one of them. No one had forgotten the way she and her sister had stood up to the Witch King for them.

Buffy could admit the ceremony passed in blur. She'd been proud of Aragorn and proud of him achieving her destiny. It struck her in the moment the crown ended up on Aragorn's head. She had achieved her mission as well. She was free and best of all ...

She was happy.

The song Aragorn sung to finish the ceremony had many in tears. Buffy was having none of it. The time for tears were over. This was a time to celebrate and dance. She figured she couldn't dance like she did at the Bronze all those years ago.

It didn't matter.

She and Aragorn started the dances off and it was fun. Buffy would say she felt like a princess but she had graduated to Queen. Disney eat your heart out.

Galadriel looked at the happy couple.

The Queen was standing with her hands on her hips. Galadriel wondered what had upset her so. What could it be? Ah, it became clearer. Two little children entered the scene, a young girl who would no doubt grow up to be the image of her mother. The young boy favoured Estel when he was younger.

So the line of Isildur was safe. It was glorious to see happiness settle on the city. It had lived too long in the gloom. This was the time for man to take its place as one the major leaders of Middle Earth.

A voice floated down the hallway. The children seemed to make their peace with their mother. As she was willing to hide them in her skirts.

"Melleth have you seen ...?"

There stood Aragorn not looking much older than he did now, the odd grey streak entering his hair. He was looking more puzzled than cross.

The Queen stood impish and had yet to share the joke. "Have I seen ...?"

"The Children!"

Buffy looked down at her skirt, letting Aragorn in on the secret. "I wonder where they may be hiding?"

Aragorn had mirth in his eyes. It was a good sight to see, "Too bad ... I ordered their favourite cake for the banquet."

The children rushed at their laughing father shouting, "Here they are!"

A hand on her shoulder knocked her out of the vision. The Old White wizard could guess. "What did you see?"

Galadriel wasn't trying to be mysterious although she was older than the wizard so it was her right. "The beginning in the end ... The hope futures can bring."

_The End_

Author's Note: It is done so I am on track with my New Year's resolution to complete outstanding WIP's. I thank all to have kept their patience whilst this was finished and to everyone who has read, recommended or reviewed the story.