Title: Moving On
Author: Wildecate
Email: Wildecate@hotmail.com
Rating: G - just fluff
Notes: First attempt at BtVS/LOTR crossover. Don't flame me.
Pairing: Willow/Legolas (of course!)
Credits: We all know who created the characters - songs by Avril Lavigne/Daniel Bedingfield
Dedication: For Lara

Willow screamed out as the force of the magic took her, sweeping through the library knocking Giles and Oz away from her, dropping Legolas to his knees and flinging Angelus on to his back. Faith paused in her attack of Buffy to look over her shoulder.

"Angelus?" she screamed as she turned, not understanding.

Buffy rose up and hit Faith, all her anger and hatred behind it, sending Faith flying backwards, landing awkwardly, knocking her unconscious. Buffy shook herself, pushing her hair back off her face and ran to Angel. She helped him get to his knees, and as he gritted his teeth, pulled out Legolas' arrows. Legolas had been aiming to miss his heart but to incapacitate which he had ably managed to do while causing the minimum amount of damage to Angel. She put her hands over the wounds, and then on his face, touching his lips.

"Buffy" he whispered "Oh God, it happened again"

"Ssshhh, don't talk" she pulled off her shirt, ripping it in two and padding his wounds to try and stop the blood.

Xander pulled himself to his feet, and looked around him. It looked as though a bomb had exploded within the library, books everywhere, marks in the wall and scorch marks on the ground from the candles. He leaned down to Oz and pulled him upright, before moving across to Buffy and Angel. Giles crawled over to Willow who was lying on the ground completely unconscious. Legolas was already by her side, stroking her face.

"How is she?" Giles asked and was stunned by the sudden anger on the elf's usually tranquil face.

"How do you think she is?" Legolas lifted her up easily and stood tall "She has risked her life for you, for all of you. She has not felt pain for many years and yet she did this of you without question. And you worry for a vampire." The scorn in his voice made the others flinch. Angel looked up at Legolas, not really understanding what was going on. The last day had been a blur anyway and he couldn't comprehend what Willow and this strange man were doing in the library.

"Send us home. Now"

"It will take some time" Giles said "I need to find the book, it's different now because we did the spell..."

"I don't care how you did it before" Legolas' voice was cold "Find out how to get us home." He started to walk out of the library, passing Buffy and Angel.

"Where are you going?" Buffy asked.

"Outside. This room is death for her."

Legolas followed the corridors of the school, finally finding himself outside in the school grounds. He walked softly across the manicured lawns and found himself in a grove of trees. Privacy at last. He laid Willow down beneath the trees and knelt beside her, wiping the blood from her nose, the dirt from her face. She looked so fragile lying there, her eyes shut, eyelashes spread delicately across the paleness of her skin. Legolas laid a gentle hand across her cheek and reached out to her, saying her name. There was a quiet answer although her eyes did not open and the relief flooded through him.

He hated this place, hated the people who claimed to love Willow. She had mentioned them from time to time, talking about them, about their adventures, their fights against evil. He was well aware of the history that this group carried, the tragic love of Buffy and Angel, the constant battle against good and evil, sometimes, as tonight, the lines becoming blurred. And yet she had done as they had requested of her, she had risked herself for these people without thanks. He sent a quiet prayer up to whatever gods happened to be listening at this point that they could get safely home. He would not want to live in this violent and oppressive land where even the sky glowed pale orange at night.

Finally she opened her eyes, staring up at him.

"Did it work?" she questioned

"It did" he replied softly, running his hand down her cheek and clasping her hand. She sighed in relief and sat herself up little, looking around her. Legolas had come to the place where he felt safest, the trees, the open air, the stars surrounding him. She smiled up at him, a poor imitation of her usually brilliant smile and then groaned as she tried to move.

A voice came through the trees calling her name, Giles. Legolas slipped away from her to meet him and then returned, bringing Giles with him. Willow stayed where she was, remembering this all encompassing pain tended to fade quicker if she stayed still, and watched his approach. She could tell from the look in Legolas' eyes that he was beyond angry, that he hadn't really understood how much danger she would be putting herself in and that it was more angry with himself for allowing it than with her for doing it. Giles smiled in relief when he saw Willow awake and knelt by her, offering her a bottle of water which she thankfully accepted.

"I've found the spell for the portal to send you back." Giles was hesitant "But we thought you might want to stay for a few days, just to see us, perhaps."

Willow shook her head slowly and sipped her water, watching her elf out of the corner of her eye. He had taken himself off into the trees and was pretending to ignore them although she was quite aware he could hear every word.

"We can't stay Giles, you must see that." Willow got to her feet and lent on the tree as a wave of dizziness passed over her "We don't belong here. Send us home now."

"Now?"

"Now."

The portal shimmered before them and Legolas turned to Giles before he stepped through.

"Do not call on her again Rupert Giles. She will follow the elves to Valinor and that place is sacred and holy. She deserves to live her time in safety and tranquillity." He shouldered his bow and stood by the portal, waiting for Willow to make her final goodbyes.

Willow turned to Giles first, hugging him and then whispering in his ear.

"I always did miss you most of all".

Buffy was next with Angel wrapping his long arms around them both. They were both crying with sadness and thankfulness. Buffy didn't want Willow to go, clinging on to her madly but Willow handed her to Angel who gave her a sad look before taking the Slayer from her.

Oz gave her a long gaze before holding her. He brushed his lips over her cheek and she drew back and smiled at him.

"I didn't leave you for him" she said "I'm doing that now"

"Somehow that doesn't make it any better" he answered "but you seem to be happy with him so who I am to argue?" he shrugged.

"You'll be OK?" she asked.

"Yeah. You?" Oz glanced over at Legolas "don't answer that question. I already know."

Xander was last, her boy-man. His hug was hard and fast.

"At least I got to say good bye properly this time" he said, biting his lip, trying to ignore the tears that welled up in his eyes.

"Xander..."

"Don't say anything." He hugged her again and then pushed her gently towards Legolas. She looked up at her Legolas, her soul, her life and back at the people who had once been so important to her. There was no contest in this.

He stepped through the portal with Willow following without a backward glance.




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