Full Circle

The Slayer resumed her daily activities, doing her best to act as though nothing had ever happened. She convinced herself that Celegorm and Curufin were to blame for the Kinslaying, as both Maglor and Maedhros had told her that the two C-brothers had incited the others to violence. While she grieved over the brothers’ passing, she felt that they had received their comeuppance for instigating the Noldor to battle the Sindar at Menegroth.

As the weeks turned into months, Buffy found herself haunted by something that Morgoth had told her long ago: that a relationship built on a foundation of lies was doomed to crumble into nothingness. Even though he had made that statement in regards to her relationship with Mablung, she couldn’t help but think that the same thing applied to her marriage. She was keeping things from Maglor. She was lying to him. She wondered if she was dooming their marriage by doing so, or, since her intentions were honorable, her lies were justified. She tended to believe the latter.

Buffy did everything she could to put those thoughts out of her mind. She trained with a renewed vigor, exercising both her body and mind. She began using her Mirror more frequently, determined to see what was happening outside of her realm. Morgoth’s minions had the run of Beleriand, pursuing Elf and Man with an unquenchable thirst for blood. Those people that could, fled to Ossir, seeking the Slayer’s protection from the menacing creatures of Melkor Bauglir.

Much to her surprise, Buffy had found the location of the survivors from Menegroth. She was relieved to see that Elwing was amongst them. The Grey-elves had retreated to the Mouths of Sirion, where they were aided by the people of Círdan in the building of a new settlement there. She didn’t share that revelation with any, save Orchal, as they now knew the location of the Silmaril, and dare not speak of it to anyone.

By the time that summer of Yr 510 had arrived, she had also discovered the whereabouts of Gondolin. To her dismay, she also saw many yrch searching the lands around Echoriath, the mountain chain that surrounded Turgon’s city. Fearing that the enemy would learn the location of the Hidden Kingdom, the Slayer sent a letter, via one of her falcons, to the Noldo King, imploring him to tighten his watches along the mountain passes.

Unfortunately, Turgon would never receive her message. Maeglin, his nephew, would intercept the letter, and destroy it. The elf, against the laws of his uncle, often traveled in secret outside of that realm, mining for metals, and had been captured by yrch a few weeks before. He was taken before Morgoth’s throne in Angband. Maeglin’s will faltered under the intense, scrutinizing eyes of Melkor Bauglir, causing the Enemy to see the elf’s deepest and darkest desires. As the Dark Lord had done with the evil Easterlings, he had lured Maeglin into betraying the location of Gondolin with false promises that the elf would become the ruler of that land, and would have the hand of his first cousin, Idril, whom the elf lusted after greatly.

Buffy would not learn of these things until much later, but Morgoth was already planning the destruction of the last, great Noldorin realm in Beleriand. His attack would come on Midsummer’s Day of that same year, when the Slayer had left her lands for several days to attend the funeral of her dear old friend, Dringion, the Dwarf Lord of Belegost.

Morgoth’s Balrogs, Dragons, yrch and wolves descended upon the city just before dawn. Those that dwelled within the Hidden Kingdom had gathered on the city’s walls in anticipation of the rising sun, for that day marked the festival, Gates of Summer, and the elves would sing their songs at the sun’s rising. However, the first light that they had seen had not come from the east as expected, but from the north, as the fires of the Balrogs’ bodies illuminated the darkness that surrounded them.

The sudden attack brought terror to the masses, having believed that Gondolin would never be discovered by the enemy. There was much chaos as the demons of Morgoth invaded the city. Some elves tried to escape by the tunnel that led to the city’s main gates, but the Dark Lord’s minions were already there and killed all those that attempted to flee that way.

Turgon’s armies had rallied together, in an attempt to assail the enemy, but to no avail. So great were the number of their foes that there was no way they could defeat them. Many of the greatest and most valiant Noldor perished in their attempt to defend the mirror image of Tirion in Eldamar.

Maeglin, and those loyal to him, aided Morgoth from within, cutting down all those elves that attempted to prevent the Noldo from seizing Idril, whom he prized nearly as much as the lordship of Gondolin. But the elf would get his just rewards for his betrayal. He met his grisly demise when a wrathful Tuor threw him over a precipice.

Idril, having feared that something like that would one day happen, had had a secret tunnel built through the mountains as a means of escape. She and Tuor gathered those elves that they could, and led them to the secret passageway, which only a few had known about. The elleth attempted to persuade her father to come, but Turgon refused to desert his people and beloved city. The Noldo King would die before the doors to his citadel.

Not many escaped. But, thankfully, Tuor, Idril and Eärendil were amongst those that had. With the help of Manwë’s Eagles, and the power of Ulmo, they were able to flee with their kinsmen to the Mouths of Sirion, where they joined the survivors of Menegroth and the Falas.

When Buffy came back from Belegost and saw these events play out in her Mirror, she was terrified. With Gondolin gone, that left only Ossir and Angband standing. She increased the watches on her northern and western borders, fearing that Ossiriand’s doom was fast approaching.

Though she was preparing for the worst, Morgoth did not intend to wage war on his beloved. He believed that by annihilating the threat of Gondolin, he had defeated a great enemy. In times past, after he had been set free from Mandos, every time Melkor had passed by Turgon in Valinor, he felt that his doom would one day come from the Noldo in some way. Now that Turgon had been taken care of, he began to devise a new scheme for his beloved Melisse, a scheme that would ultimately lead to the Valar turning against her, just as they had him.

The Slayer’s uneasiness grew as the months turned into years and Morgoth still made no threats of war. She understood how calculating the Vala could be, and the words of Ulmo sprung to mind more frequently than ever before: Expect the unexpected. She therefore increased the watches along all of Ossir’s borders including the southern portion of her realm where the threat of war was slim to none. There was no way that she was going to make the same mistakes that the Noldor had in the past by becoming less vigilant as their kingdom’s flourished and their people prospered. If she let her guard down, even for a moment, Melkor would strike, ending her dynasty in Beleriand. After working for centuries to create what she considered a great utopia, she wasn’t about to become lax or complacent as the other elvish Lords had.



When fourteen years had passed since Buffy had sent Eluréd and Elurín away, she began to experience what she called ‘bizarre’ dreams. In actuality, they were visions. Visions that would ultimately help the twin sons of Dior gain their immortal status. The dreams centered on Two Trees, but not the Two Trees of Valinor, Telperion and Laurelin. These Trees were different. They emitted no light but each bore an edible fruit. The land in which they were located was indiscernible to her, as the visions were hazy at best. The Slayer had no idea where to begin her search for those Two Trees, and hoped that eventually her dreams would reveal the exact location.

That time finally arrived in the summer of Yr 525. She was lounging in one of the gardens of Lindecoa with Maglor, who was serenading her with one of his beautiful love songs. His lyrics conjured images of their first meeting in the dreamscape long ago when Buffy had first became enamored of the Noldo. As she lay there, in a dream-like state, the pictures from her memories began to blend into something altogether different. Before long, the entire landscape changed in her mind’s eye to something that she remembered quite well.

Her eyes darted open. “I know where I need to go!” she gasped in surprise.

Maglor stopped strumming his harp. “What are you talking about?” he asked, his brows furrowed in question.

“The Trees, those Two Trees I’ve been dreaming about,” she smiled, turning toward her husband. “I know where they are.”

“Where?”

“Sumer. They’re in Sumer.”

A worried look came to the Noldo’s face. “You can’t go to Sumer! If Marduk finds out… ”

“He won’t know,” she interrupted. “I’ll sneak in.”

“How in Eru’s name are you going to sneak into Sumer?” he queried, unnerved at the prospect of his wife’s departure. “You do not have the ability to disguise yourself as you once had. You cannot change your form at will.”

“I won’t need to. It’s not like I’m gonna be entering his temple or anything. The place I’m talking about is far from civilization, or at least on the outskirts, if I remember correctly.”

“Bella, it’s been hundreds of years since you departed Mesopotamia. Things change over time,” Maglor argued. “And I don’t see the point in finding these Trees. What purpose do they serve any way?”

Buffy fell quiet, pondering the Noldo’s question. Her gut told her that those Trees were of great importance although she didn’t know exactly why or to what extent. Deep down, she knew they had something to do with Eluréd and Elurín. For years, she had been praying to Ilúvatar for guidance and believed that the visions were an answer to her prayers. She was desperate to gift the sons of Dior with immortality, and felt that perhaps the fruit of those Trees, if eaten, might bestow everlasting life upon one. Though unsure, she was compelled to see for herself whether or not her theory was correct.

“I have to go,” she finally said, rising to her feet.

Maglor leapt to his feet, grabbing his wife by the arm. “What would drive you to return to the lands forbidden to you? No good will come of it, I deem.”

The Slayer still had not told her husband that the Enyd had rescued Eluréd and Elurín from certain death, and wasn’t about to reveal that they were her motivation to return to the lands from which she was exiled.

“I have to do what I have to do,” she answered, firmer in tone.

The Noldo could see the look of resolve in his wife’s eyes. He knew there was nothing he could do or say to dissuade her. He feared that if she went back to Mesopotamia, she’d fall victim to her past transgressions.

“Let me come with you then,” he said, looking pleadingly at Buffy.

“I have to go alone. It’s something that I have to do… alone.” She gave Maglor a reassuring smile. “I won’t be gone long. Promise.” The Slayer planted a kiss on his lips. “I’ll be alright. Don’t worry.”

“How can I not worry when you’re intent on entering the lands of the enemy?”

“Oh, honey, don’t underestimate my stealthiness,” she answered lightheartedly. Buffy linked her arm with the Noldo’s and began to guide him back to the castle. “Stealthy is my middle name.”

Once inside, Maglor, displeased that she was leaving so suddenly, watched as his wife quickly gathered the things she’d need for the journey. He couldn’t help but feel that she was walking into a trap. He believed that Morgoth and Marduk were in cahoots, that they were sending her the visions that were taking her away from him. Nothing frightened him more than the thought of Buffy entering enemy territory without the aid of any army or the powers of the Valar. The Noldo desperately tried to convince his wife to take Olofin with her since he possessed magics that could help her against any possible attack, but, once again, the Slayer refused.

She was relieved when she finally took to the air in her lion drawn chariot some thirty minutes later. Buffy was nervously excited about returning to Sumer. She only wished that she could see her children, Anno and Mirë, but feared that she’d be discovered if she dared set foot in Eridu. Besides, she wasn’t going that deep into her former lands. She would be far northwest of the capital city of Sumer.

Along the way, the Slayer stopped at the Deeper Well, visiting with Dvalin and the other dwarves for a while. She was amazed to see the progress they had made on the pit since her last visit. From where she stood on the platform, she couldn’t see the light from the lamps of the workers in the depths of the hole. Hundreds upon hundreds of sarcophagi protruded from the walls as far down as she could see. She found it mind-blowing to see that so many foes had perished in the wars in Middle-earth.

Buffy remained with the dwarves until she was summoned to Folkvang in the wee hours of the following morning. She was delighted to learn from Sargon that she was on the right path, that her journey into the East was Eru’s will. The Adan was so excited about her mission that he offered to teleport his lover to her destination so that none could witness her arrival into Marduk’s realm.

The Slayer gladly accepted his offer. However, before she was willing to leave, she asked that Vórëa accompany her lions to Hirílost. She didn’t want her kitties to make the journey alone, especially since they had never been to that part of Middle-earth.

One second, the Vala Queen was standing within her Halls, Sussrúmnir, the next, she found herself standing on a plateau at the edge of the great cedar forest in Sumer. Her eyes scanned the familiar terrain, which glowed in orange from the early morning sun. A crisp breeze blew from the southeast, carrying with it an earthy scent. She could see that it had rained hours earlier.

Walking across the spongy ground, she stopped at the edge of the ravine, the site of one of many battles that had been fought by her people in the past. She recalled the tragic death of Túreb and the mutilation of Sador on that fateful day so long ago. As her eyes welled with tears at the memory, the hair on the nape of Buffy’s neck suddenly stood on end. She sensed that she was no longer alone.

Slowly, she turned. Her jaw dropped and her eyes widened to nearly twice their normal size as she beheld the Demon Lord, Humbaba, in the flesh.

“Hail, Ishtar,” he said in the Sumerian tongue, bowing his overly large head. “It is a great honor to meet you at last, face to face.”

The shock of seeing the demonic creature of the forest left her momentarily speechless. The Slayer quickly snapped her jaw shut, trying to act as though she didn’t find his appearance strange and repulsive.

“So, so you must be Humbaba,” she answered, once she had found her voice. Her disbelieving eyes surveyed the monster’s frightening form.

“That, I am,” he replied, slightly hurt that the Vala Queen appeared disgusted by his appearance.

Humbaba must have been from a race of giants or something since he stood at least ten feet tall. Oddly enough, he reminded Buffy of a robot. She thought it must have been because of his metallic silver colored flesh. He was broadly built and his long, thick arms hung at his sides, well past his knees. But it was his face that she found most creepy, or, more accurately, his eye, since he had only one. It was the reason why his head was overly large, as the eye was about the size of a football. Adding to the creepiness factor was the fact that the eye constantly changed color, from brown to green, to yellow to red.

She shifted her gaze, uncomfortable with being in the presence of what the Slayer believed was none other than a living and breathing Cyclops. She looked at the mammoth cedars beyond him, realizing at that moment that if Humbaba’s eye turned blue, that killer death beam of his would strike her dead as it had so many others before.

“I’ve been waiting for you,” the creature continued. “I have much to show you. I deem that you’ll be quite pleased with what you see.”

Humbaba started toward the wood, but Buffy remained frozen to the spot, her mind racing with a whirlwind of thoughts. She was reluctant to follow one whom she considered an enemy, to follow him into the heart of his realm, and began to question Ilúvatar’s judgment. Even though Sargon had told her she was on the right path, she couldn’t believe that the Allfather would use such a creature as an instrument in his designs. The Cyclops had killed Túreb, her beloved friend! And Sador had his arm blown off because of Humbaba! How could she willingly follow one who had killed those so righteous and pure at heart? For God’s sake, the Demon Lord had even shot at her and Úrion as they fled in the chariot! No, she wasn’t eager to follow him, not by a long shot.

The Demon Lord must have sensed her apprehension. He stopped in his tracks, but didn’t face her. “No harm will come to you, Ishtar,” he began, speaking in his most reassuring voice. “You know that you’re meant to be here, that you were destined to return to my lands. You said so yourself long ago. Do you not remember your words to me? The gift you gave to me? The instructions you spoke in regards to the two silver beams?” Humbaba slowly turned, facing the Slayer. “The war is over. At least, between your people and mine. I am your ally, Ishtar, not your enemy. We all have our part to play in Eru’s designs, and ours is great. Come,” he said, motioning her to follow. “Come! See the transformation that has brought you here for I deem that you will be most pleased when you do.”

Buffy’s eyes scanned the wood, hoping that she’d catch a glimpse of the Two Trees. Yet, deep down, she knew that they could not be seen from where she stood. After taking a deep breath, she followed the Demon Lord, disappearing into the thickness of the forest.

The deeper they walked into the wood, the calmer she became. The heaviness that normally lay about the land was gone and in its place were peace and tranquility. Numerous birds of all kinds chirped merrily, flying from the branches of the cedars, accompanying the unlikely pair on their journey.

After walking for hours, they stopped and rested in a small clearing. Some of Humbaba’s acolytes came forth from the shadow of the woods, bringing with them food and drink. Those beings looked nothing like their Master and somewhat resembled mortals save for the bluish silver color of their skin. They sang in their lovely harmonious voices as Buffy and the Demon Lord ate.

Shortly after eating, the Slayer and Humbaba resumed their trek. Her uneasiness at the Cyclops’ appearance abated after talking much with him. He spoke of his past hostilities with not only Morgoth but with Illyria and Marduk as well. He also mentioned Set, one of Marduk’s sons, whom he loathed greatly although he didn’t go into any details as to why.

It was mid-afternoon when they finally reached a great stone wall. Humbaba told her that his people had quarried the stone from Orocarni (which could clearly be seen to the west), and erected the wall as a means of defense.

“Already whispers of this place have reached those that dwell to our east, from the utter north to the utter south,” he explained as they walked along the wall toward the main gates. “The magics contained within these walls lure many from all races to seek its secrets. None have yet found their way here, though we’ve killed many that have attempted to do so. You shall be the first, aside from my people, to lay eyes on what we consider sacred and holy.”

Buffy shielded her eyes as she looked up at the top of the wall. For the first time since entering the forest, she saw many other creatures like her companion, Cyclops’, standing atop the bulwark, watching for possible intruders from both the woods and air.

When they reached the gates, the Slayer gasped at the sight. The massive doors were wrought from copper, at least, its facing was. Embossed on each door, in adamant, was an enormous Holy Cross. The sun’s rays reflecting against the surface bedazzled her eyes with a reddish-white light. On either side stood a tower of lapis lazuli. A lion and a lioness, both covered in gold, sat on the roof of each structure.

The Slayer’s eyes glistened with tears. A smile came to her face. She couldn’t help but notice that the symbols that adorned the entry into that land represented her, her and Eru Ilúvatar, that is. She was moved beyond words.

“Do you know this place?” asked the Demon Lord, watching her intently as the gates slowly swung open. “Do you know its name?”

She shook her head.

“Think. Think hard,” he said encouragingly, waiting with bated breath for her to utter the name of that holy place.

Buffy stared at the landscape that lay beyond the gates. “Edin,” she whispered as the name suddenly came to her mind.

“That’s right,” answered a beaming Humbaba, proud that she knew the name. “And do you know what it means?”

She turned her gaze to the Cyclops. “‘The Abode of the Righteous Ones,’” she answered softly.

“Indeed,” he replied, stepping forward to the entryway. Humbaba held his arms aloft. “Welcome, my dear Lady, to your new home in Mesopotamia.” The demon faced her, smiling. “This is where you will make preparations for your war with Marduk - the Righteous versus the Wicked! A new day will dawn when evil is destroyed from these regions, where those whose blood is untainted shall rise and prevail over those that have disgraced Eru Ilúvatar.” He slowly walked toward Buffy. “Your time will come again, Ishtar. You will soon return to these parts and reclaim your throne, ousting Marduk from his. The lordship of these lands will be yours once again.”

Hearing those words from Humbaba’s mouth caused the smile to fade from the Slayer’s face. She vividly recalled her abuse of power in the past and feared that it would happen again. No, she didn’t want that power, but she chose not tell that to the Cyclops.

“Take me to the Two Trees. I want to see them for myself,” she ordered, beginning to comprehend where she really was.

“Right this way, my Lady,” he said, motioning for her to pass through the gates, “and I shall take you to the most splendid garden in all of Middle-earth.”

A carriage attached to a couple of oxen waited for them just inside the wall. They climbed into the vehicle before it began to move along through a vast green field. Wildlife of all kinds could be seen grazing or running amidst the rich grasses. Though Humbaba and his people toiled in building the wall, they themselves did not dwell in Edin nor had they cultivated the lands. Everything was in its natural unadulterated state.

The Demon Lord explained that after he had planted the two silver beams of the cross to Buffy’s specifications, the terrain within his forest had begun to change.

As he continued to drone on, things became somewhat clearer to the Slayer. She now understood that she was on her way to the Garden of Eden, and that she would soon set eyes upon the legendary Trees: the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and the Tree of Life. Buffy couldn’t help but feel excited at the thought that she was the one responsible for their existence, that she had helped bring them into being.

However, she was also confused. While she was by no means a Biblical scholar, she couldn’t help but wonder about the story of Adam and Eve. If there was any story from the Bible that she was quite familiar with, it was that one, from the Book of Genesis. The thing was - Man already existed! So, how could it be that the first mortal man dwelled in Edin? Confounding her even more was the fact that she recalled that Eve was made from the rib of Adam, a feat that seemed highly improbable, if not impossible, to her.

In time, Buffy would gain a greater knowledge of not only that mythological story, but many others as well. She was destined to become a major player in the events that would soon take place, marking her place in the annals of history. Yet, the Evil Ones would do their damnedest to alter the true account, the legends of old, out of fear of womankind’s rise to power. Only those with “eyes to see, and ears to hear” would be able to discern truth from fiction.

Long before they actually set eyes upon the Two Trees, they could smell the sweet fragrance of the fruit wafting in the air. When the vehicle came to a halt, Humbaba helped his companion out. She stood beside the Cyclops, staring at the illustrious Two Trees.

“Hmm,” sounded the Slayer, folding her arms across her chest.

“Is something wrong?” asked Humbaba, his curiosity getting the better of him.

“No, not really,” she replied, puzzled by what she saw. “I always thought that the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil bore apples.” Buffy shifted her green eyes to the Demon Lord. “That’s how mankind had always depicted it.” She shrugged. “I guess they missed the mark on this one.”

“I see that you know the name of that Tree,” said the Demon Lord, turning his eye toward the Tree further from where they stood. “And the other… ”

“… Is the Tree of Life,” she nodded. “Yeah, I get it now. I know of this place.”

The Slayer walked up to the closest Tree, the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. She ran her hand along the bark of the Tree, which was smooth and silver, just like the Cross from which it sprang. Above her, clusters of purple fruit hung from branches covered in green oval-shaped leaves. The fruit most closely resembled plums, but grew in bunches like grapes.

She turned her gaze to the other Tree, as she was most interested in that one. The Tree of Life was the reason for her visit. As she walked over to that Tree, she could see that it was quite different from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Growing amid the golden red leaves was a fruit that most closely resembled a banana but definitely was not. The fruit grew in clusters, just like the other, yet its fragrance was not as sweet.

Reaching for the lowest limb, Buffy broke off a bunch of the golden-brown colored fruit and inspected it closely. Unlike a banana, the fruit had a skin similar to that of the other tree; the flesh yielded to her touch. She brought the fruit to her nose and inhaled deeply. It emitted a scent similar to honey.

“This is the answer to my prayers,” she said softly, shifting her eyes to the Cyclops. “For years I’ve been searching for a way to gift others with immortality and this is it.” She glanced back at the fruit cradled in her arms. “This is what I’ve been searching for.”

“Then you have not yet regained your powers,” said Humbaba, cocking his overly large head to the side.

“How do you know about that?” she queried uneasily, staring into the now green eye of the Demon Lord.

“I know many things, Ishtar, many things that may be advantageous to you in the future,” he nodded. “I can see that you still do not wholly understand the powers that lie within you. You, my Lady, possess powers so great that those of your kindred fear what you’re capable of… ”

“I have no powers,” Buffy interjected weakly. “Marduk stripped them from me before I was forced into exile… ”

“Yet the day will come when one from the race of the Valar will restore your powers!” declared Humbaba with certainty. He placed one of his silver hands on her shoulder. “Strength comes in many forms and you should not underestimate those abilities that you still possess.”

“Didn’t you hear me?” she snapped. “I don’t have any powers! I’m weak. I’m a shell of my former self.”

“Your prowess in battle is legendary,” countered the Cyclops. “I can feel the strength within your body even now. You may be small, but you are strong. You do not need magics to defeat the enemy, only strength and wisdom.”

“That’s easy for you to say. You’ve got that whole death ray thingy working for you,” she replied, staring into his now monstrous yellow eye.

“True, but that is my greatest defense. I would trade the power of my eye for your strength if given the chance. The peoples in this world gravitate toward you, Ishtar. They love you. They’d die for you.” Humbaba pulled his hand away. A sad look came to his hideous face. “Alas, none save for my people feel that way about me. I am a monster, a creature condemned to live in solitude for my bodily form instills fear into those that look upon me.”

Buffy shifted her feet uncomfortably, turning her gaze toward Orocarni looming in the background. “The sun’s going down,” she said, abruptly changing the subject. “It’ll be dark soon.”

“Then we should be on our way,” answered the Cyclops. “Let us return to my lands and I will see to it that you are fed before you depart.”

They walked back to the carriage, and left the uninhabited city of Edin. The Slayer was taken to the secret dwelling place of Humbaba and his people. The entrance was similar to that of the Deeper Well, as one had to pass through a mystical barrier of a trunk of a hollowed out cedar. At the request of the Demon Lord, she would never speak of that place or the things that she saw. She remained there until Sargon brought her back to Folkvang the following morning.

“Ah, I see that you have the fruit from the Tree of Life,” said the smiling Adan upon her arrival at Sussrúmnir.

“Yep,” she replied, allowing Sargon to steer her up the stairway. “Am I supposed to let Eluréd and Elurín eat this or what?”

“It would be best to make a drink from the juice.”

Once they had reached Buffy’s private rooms, her lover grabbed a bowl, a towel, a metal pick, and a ewer. They sat on the floor on either side of the coffee table. With her elbows propped on the tabletop, she watched with great interest as Sargon pulled one of the banana-looking fruit from the cluster. He carefully stuck the metal pick into one end, piercing the golden-brown flesh. Immediately, the strong scent of honey permeated the chamber.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” she laughed as she watched Sargon ‘stroke’ the juice from the fruit.

“The juice can only be extracted in the same manner as one handling an udder of a cu or goat,” he replied with a wry smile as the amber fluid splattered into the bowl.

“Like an udder?” chortled the Slayer in her amusement. “Sorry, honey, but that looks more like giving a hand job.” Shaking her head, she added, “Let me show you that it can be done another way.” She pulled a dagger charm from her belt before grabbing a piece of fruit from the table top. “See, all you have to do is slice it thus…” Buffy paused as she struggled in her efforts to break the skin with the tip of her blade. Though the fruit yielded to the touch, the skin appeared quite tough. She pushed down on the blade with all her might. Instead of tearing through the flesh of the fruit, the blade slid off, slicing the palm of her hand at the base of her thumb. Cursing, she dropped both her dagger and the fruit as blood squirted from her wound. She pressed her good hand against the gash in an attempt to staunch the flow of blood.

“Ooh, let me see,” Sargon winced, reaching for her injured hand.

“Stupid phallic-shaped fruit,” grumbled the Slayer in disdain as her lover ran his tongue over the incision, healing it instantly.

“There, all better,” he smiled.

Grabbing the towel, Buffy began wiping the blood from her now healed hand. She watched as Sargon resumed stroking the juice from the fruit. “I guess it’s safe to say that Ilúvatar has a sense of humor. I’ve never seen any type of fruit that has to be stroked like that.”

“The fruit from the Tree of Life is masculine in design whereas the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil is feminine… ”

“Oh, I see how it is,” she interjected disapprovingly. “You men folk have to associate evil with women even though men are nearly always the culprits of the wickedest of deeds.”

“Ah, but it’s the seed of man that brings forth life,” countered the Adan with a mischievous grin on his face.

“Without the egg from a woman you have nothing. We carry life. We bring it forth. Not man!”

“Don’t get so upset over this, Bella. It is what it is. Rejoice that you have what you’ve been searching for - a juice that will give the drinker immortality.”

“Yeah, I guess,” she sighed, tossing the towel back onto the table.

“Come on and help me here. We’ll get done faster,” said Sargon, motioning to the fruit on the table with his head. “I daresay that you’re probably better at this than I!”

With a shake of her head, Buffy helped the Adan extract the juice from the rest of the fruit. From that day forward, she would refer to the Tree of Life as the ‘Penis Tree’, and once she had seen the inside of the plum-like fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, she would refer to that as the ‘Vagina Tree’. It would be a running joke within her Household, yet the terminology would one day find its way to mankind, who would record those terms in clay tablets during the Second Age.

When they had collected all the juice into the bowl, Sargon carefully poured it into the ewer. The time had now arrived for Buffy to give the drink to the twin sons of Dior.

Shortly thereafter, the Adan teleported her to Hirílost.

The dwarves on guard duty were shocked by the Slayer’s sudden arrival at her fortress in northern Sumer. It had been over three hundred years since she last set foot in her Halls, and none of the Naugrim had ever seen the Vala Queen in the flesh before. They recognized her by the various portraits and statues that graced the many chambers of Hirílost. The descendents of Noegyth Nibin greeted her in proper dwarvish fashion, excited by the arrival of the one that had delivered their forefathers from evil.

Despite the early hour, Buffy was most eager to see Eluréd and Elurín. She asked the dwarves to wake the young men as well as Luthor and Lalwen. As the Naugrim obediently followed orders, she made her way to her Great Hall.

Upon entering that chamber, she climbed the steps of the dais to her throne. She placed the ewer on the small table beside her chair before sinking into the blue cushioned seat. The Slayer glanced around the dimly lit chamber, noticing that nothing had changed in the many years since she had last been there.

Unable to sit still, she took the chalice of wine that the dwarf, Lintz, offered her before ambling around the room, admiring the various pieces of artwork that illustrated her past triumphs. She was about to question Lintz about one of the paintings when she heard the sound of hurried footfalls in the corridor outside the chamber.

She turned toward the doorway, watching in anticipation, until both Eluréd and Elurín came rushing into view. They came to a halt just inside the room, breathing heavily from their sprint through the castle. Buffy’s lips curled into a smile as she beheld the sons of Dior, who had now reached what she considered to be the pinnacle of manhood.

As the twins approached her, she could see that they had inherited the physique of their mortal forefathers, but their faces, especially the eyes, revealed their kinship with the Eldar. They were beautiful in a manly way.

Unlike the last time the Slayer had seen the sons of Dior, they did not run into her arms. When they reached her, the young men fell onto bended knee, following the protocol instilled in them by both Luthor and Lalwen.

“Greetings, Luinil,” they said in unison.

Buffy thrust her empty chalice into Lintz’s chest, her gaze never leaving the young men kneeling before her.

“Look at you,” she said softly, gently lifting each young man’s chin with either hand. “You’ve grown into such handsome men.” Her eyes darted from Eluréd and Elurín. “I have come as I had promised and have brought a gift beyond all gifts.” She kissed both men on the forehead before bidding them to rise.

The twins slowly rose to their feet, towering over the much smaller form of the Slayer.

“Today you shall become more like your foremother, Lúthien,” she continued, linking her arms with the sons of Dior. She steered them toward the dais, as she instructed Lintz to bring two more chalices. “Eru has seen to it that I’m able to bestow the gift of immortality on the both of you.”

“Then your powers have been restored,” said Elurín excitedly.

“No, not yet… ”

“Bella!” shouted Lalwen upon entering the Great Hall with Luthor. Many dwarves accompanied them, anxious to see the Mistress whom they served.

“Hey Lalwen. Luthor,” replied Buffy, happy to see her old friends again.

After exchanging hugs and greetings, the Slayer explained to the others about the Two Trees in Edin, and how that the juice from the Tree of Life would give the drinker everlasting life.

“Drinking this,” began Buffy, as she filled the chalices with the golden liquid, “will make you both more like the Ainur. You’ll never grow old and no sickness will ever afflict you. You’ll be able to travel the roads to all mystical realms within Eä, including Valinor, if that’s your desire.” She handed Eluréd and Elurín a chalice of the juice that she would later name, ambrosia, the nectar of the Ainur.

The twins clanked their cups together before downing the mystical beverage. The only observable change that overcame the young men was a momentary glimmer in their eyes. Other than that, Eluréd and Elurín admitted that they didn’t feel any different.

That monumental occasion called for a celebration. The Naugrim prepared a feast in which everybody that dwelled within Hirílost partook, despite the early hour.

Luthor, Lalwen and the twins questioned Buffy about Humbaba, Edin and the Two Trees repeatedly. By the time that afternoon had rolled around, Eluréd and Elurín had managed to convince her that they wished to consume the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, feeling that it was their destiny to eat from both Trees.

Once the Slayer was summoned to Folkvang early the following morning, she had Sargon bring the sons of Dior as well. After tending to her sacred duties as the Fëantári, she had her mortal lover transport her and the twins back to the cedar forest of Humbaba.

When they arrived, the Cyclops was already waiting at the edge of the wood. That only confirmed that it was the twins’ destiny to eat the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Humbaba then led the trio to the Garden.

Instead of extracting the juice from the plum-like fruit, Eluréd and Elurín ate it straight from the Tree. They devoured all of the purple-colored flesh except for the pit, which disintegrated to dust once the fruit was eaten.

Only moments later, a frightening change overcame both young men. The blood had drained from their fair faces. Their pupils had dilated, so much so that their irises were no longer visible. The twins’ bodies began to convulse as they fell to the ground, flailing wildly, screaming in torment.

“What the hell’s going on? What’s happening to them?” asked a frantic Buffy, wrapping her arms tightly around Eluréd’s thrashing body in an attempt to restrain him.

“Eating from the Tree of Knowledge is giving them visions of the upcoming struggles between Good and Evil,” answered Humbaba, who held Elurín in a bear hug.

“Why didn’t you warn… AHH!” The Slayer’s words were cut off as Eluréd delivered a powerful head butt, causing her to see stars. The young man managed to writhe free from her grasp, and struck Humbaba with a devastating roundhouse kick that sent both the Demon Lord and his twin crashing backward onto the hard earth. Yet the Cyclops kept his hold on Elurín, who let out an ear-piercing shriek that brought many other Cyclops’ scrambling into the Garden.

Eluréd fell to his knees, his black eyes rolling backward, revealing only the whites of his eyes. With either hand, he grabbed his dark hair and began pulling it out by the handfuls.

“WE’RE GOING TO DIE! WE’RE ALL GOING TO DIE!” he screamed in anguish.

“Holy shit!” exclaimed a panicking Buffy. She ran to the young man, grabbing hold of his wrists and squeezing so hard that he was forced to let go of his dark locks. “Feawë! Rainë! Laurië! Alcari!” she screamed at the top of her lungs in desperate need of her Valkyrie chieftains’ assistance.

A second later, the four Valkyries appeared and helped subdue the twin sons of Dior. Immediately, the women and Buffy were transported back to Sussrúmnir with Eluréd and Elurín who continued to wail and writhe in agony. Accompanied by Sargon, they hurriedly carried the sons of Dior to the Healing Wing, hoping that Istahiro could somehow ease the twins’ torments.

The chief healer of Folkvang had each young man strapped into a bed to prevent them from injuring themselves further. He gave them a sedative that merely calmed them down, but did not put them to sleep. They lay there, half-dazed, turning their heads from side to side, mumbling incoherently.

Sargon did his best to assure the Slayer that she was not to blame for the twins’ suffering, that what they were experiencing was a direct result from having eaten from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, and that their affliction would be short-lived. While his words brought her little comfort, she refused to leave the sons of Dior’s side until the effects wore off.

Buffy kept a bedside vigil, praying to Eru to ease the young men’s suffering. She couldn’t understand why Ilúvatar would want any to experience such horrific visions that would drive one to the brink of madness. If the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil had such an effect on all who ate that fruit, she believed it would be better to just cut the damn thing down to prevent any future incidents.

After seven days, Eluréd and Elurín suddenly snapped out of it, regaining control of their senses. Neither recalled any of the visions that they had ‘seen’, but both felt an inexplicable need to go to Sumer in order to see how much mankind had declined in the years since the Slayer’s exile.

Buffy was reluctant to send the twins into Marduk’s domain, fearing that the Renegade Vala would discover that Eluréd and Elurín were acting as her emissaries. She turned to Sargon for advice since the sons of Dior were descendants of his bloodline. The Adan suggested holding a council amongst the Mightiest of the Mighty, allowing Barahir and his kindred a voice in the final decision.

It was decided by the Edain to give the young men a series of tests to see how great their actual abilities were. They would be tested on strength, stealth, and their skill with various weapons. The twins would be sent on a number of missions within Folkvang and would have to confront a series of obstacles.

There was no way that the Slayer was going to return to Middle-earth while the trials were underway. Much to Sargon’s delight, she remained in Folkvang, constantly by his side, just like old times. The Adan relished their time together so much that he allowed time to flow outside that Blessed Realm without his interference. Spending every moment with Buffy again only increased his eagerness for the First Age to end, so that he could become first in her heart.

After six months, Eluréd and Elurín had completed all tasks assigned to them. Satisfied with their prowess, the Slayer allowed Sargon to transport them to Sumer, where the twins would collect valuable intel that would be beneficial to Buffy in times to come.

Once the sons of Dior had departed, she asked her lover to transport her back home to Tol Galen. The Adan was grieved at heart to send her back, having enjoyed their many months together. Adding to his misery, he also knew that his beloved would be quite angry with him upon her return, since he had defied her standing orders. Not only had he not altered time in Middle-earth, but he was also sending her to Lindon, not Tol Galen.

Sargon had made the judgment call that it was important for the Slayer to learn that not only had Eluréd and Elurín experienced visions over the past few months (based on Folkvang time), but so had many in Beleriand. Though those elves that dwelled in the western regions of Middle-earth had not ‘seen’ the same things as the sons of Dior, Ulmo had shown them many scenes from the impending battle, which had sent them into a frenzy, preparing for the inevitable.

Needless to say, Buffy was both surprised and confused when she found herself standing in Lindon Hall instead of Lindecoa. When she ran into Orchal and learned that she had been gone for four years, she was irate, to say the least.

“That doesn’t matter,” said the Green-elf, cutting short her diatribe at Sargon. He linked his arm with hers, leading her out of Lindon Hall. “Much has happened since your departure, Bella,” he continued, speaking hurriedly, as they descended the steps of the mansion.

When they reached the bottom of the steps, as she lifted her gaze, she gasped. All the trees except for the ones that supported their city were gone…