Sad Wings of Destiny

Blinded by tears, Miriel ran through the corridors, crashing into Erestor at the foot of the stairs. The poor Elf Lord went flying backwards, landing on his backside. Horrified at having just knocked down Rivendell�s Chief Councilor, the Slayer froze for a moment, her jaw agape, as tears streamed down her pale face.

Stunned by the sudden collision, Erestor quickly regained his bearings as he scrambled to his feet. �Miriel, what is it? What�s wrong?� he asked, deeply concerned to see her in such a distressed state.

Once she realized that the Elf Lord was alright, she turned, and flew up the steps, taking them three at a time. When she reached the safety of her room, she slammed the door shut, and, through bleary eyes, searched the chamber for something to use as a barricade. With no lock on the door, Miriel wanted to make sure that no one could enter. The last thing she wanted was to see Glorfindel, who, she feared, wasn�t too far behind.

Breathless from both her sprint and her anguish, Miriel ran over to the wardrobe and skidded the heavy cabinet across the floor until it blocked the doorway. She then leaned against the wardrobe, gasping for breath between sobs.

She felt queasy, sick to her stomach. Perhaps it was the physical activity combined with her emotional turmoil that caused her three-course dinner to churn uncomfortably within her belly. Feeling her meal rise to her throat, she rushed over to the wastebasket and vomited inside. Unfortunately, the woven basket wasn�t designed to hold anything liquid, and her sickness gradually oozed out through the bottom of the bin. She ignored the mess, unsure whether she�d survive the night. To Miriel, it felt as if her heart had been ripped out of her chest and had been hacked into thousands of itty-bitty pieces.

She threw herself onto the bed, weeping into her pillow. Everything was different now. Why, o� why had she done something so foolish? What had she been thinking? Buffy was right � Glorfindel was way out of her league. Why hadn�t Miriel realized that sooner?

Not long afterwards, Glorfindel banged on the Slayer�s door, wanting to talk.

�Go away!� she shouted between sobs.

�Please, Miriel. We need to talk,� pleaded the Elf Lord.

�Leave me alone!� she yelled. She grabbed her other pillow and placed it over her head so she wouldn�t have to hear the Noldo�s voice.

When Glorfindel discovered that Miriel had barricaded the door, he thought it was best to leave her be, for now. She needed time, and he would give her that. Once she had calmed down, he�d have a heart-to-heart conversation with her. In the meantime, the Noldo thought that he�d better speak with Elrond and inform him of what had happened.



Miriel literally cried herself to sleep, and was quite grateful that Buffy was waiting for her when she first entered the dreamscape.

�Come here, honey,� said a sympathetic Buffy, sitting on the bed with her arms wide open.

The young Slayer accepted her mentor�s embrace. She rested her face on Buffy�s shoulder and wept some more.

�It�s alright, sweetie,� said the elder Slayer, offering her support to the heartbroken girl. She had predicted that things would end in disaster, and once again, she had been proven right. But Buffy wasn�t about to remind Miriel of that. Instead, she found herself stepping into a new role to her prot�g�, that of mother. Or perhaps mother figure was more accurate. It wasn�t so new to her. She had played the part for Dawnie, or at least tried to.

She held Miriel in her arms, one hand stroking her dark hair while the other remained wrapped tightly around her waist, holding her close.

�These things happen,� said Buffy, trying to find the right words to make Miriel feel better. She leaned her head against the girl�s. �The main thing is picking up the pieces and moving on. Things will get better.�

�I�ll never be able to face Glorfindel again,� whimpered the young Slayer.

�Sure you will.�

Miriel lifted her head, wiping her eyes and nose on the sleeve of her gown. �How could I ever possibly look him in the eyes again? How foolish I was to think someone like Glorfindel would be interested in someone like me?� she bemoaned.

�That�s crazy talk,� replied Buffy. �You�re a beautiful, young girl.� She gave Miriel a reassuring smile. �You just picked the wrong guy. There�s plenty of other fish in the sea.�

�But I love him,� protested the younger Slayer. �I thought he was my soul mate,� she added with a quivering sigh.

�You said the magic word: thought. You thought he was your soul mate. Deep down, you knew Glorfindel wasn�t the one for you.�

�There�s no one for me,� said Miriel, sniffing back her tears.

�Bullcrap!� countered Buffy. �You know what you need,� Before her prot�g� had a chance to reply, she said, �a change of scenery.�

A split second later, both Slayers sat on the sandy shore of Dol Amroth, a favorite place of Miriel�s. Buffy thought that being away from Rivendell was just the thing Miriel needed to help cope with Glorfindel�s rejection. After a few, long, silent minutes, she realized that the ocean wasn�t working its wonders like it had in the past.

�Okay, that�s it,� Buffy said, rising from the beach and brushing the sand off her rear. �We�re gonna turn that frown upside down if it�s the last thing I do.� She offered her hand to the girl. �Come on, Miriel. Apparently, this change of scenery isn�t enough.�

As the young Slayer was being pulled to her feet, everything around them changed in a momentary whirling of light. One second they were on the beach, the next, they were standing in Sunnydale, in the alley, outside the Bronze.

The leap forward in time had happened in an instant, and it took Miriel a moment or two to come to her senses. She was no longer blubbering (had that been Buffy�s doing?), and immediately noticed that her attire had changed. She was now garbed in clothing more suitable for her mentor�s time � a pair of black jeans and a tan and white striped turtleneck sweater.

In a much calmer frame of mind, she drank in her new surroundings. The driving beat of the music coming from within the building could be heard even in the dimly lit alleyway. About a dozen people or so lingered outside, some puffing away on cigarettes, while a few, sticking to the shadows, smoked something far more potent than just ordinary tobacco.

Miriel cast a disapproving eye on a few of the girls� choices of raiment, finding it offensive that girls would dress so scantily. Apparently, modesty meant nothing in Buffy�s day and age! And the girls� behavior mirrored their garb. They acted like harlots, vying for the attention of their male counterparts. It was a disgusting display.

The young Slayer then turned her attention to what she perceived to be a constant rhythmic banging. �What�s that noise?� she asked Buffy, warily eyeing the wall of the building. To her, it sounded as if there were a bunch of Orcs on the other side, pounding their drums right before battle.

�It�s called music,� laughed Buffy, dragging Miriel to the front door.

�That is not music,� countered the young Slayer in disdain.

�Granted, it�s not like that old fogy music you�re used to. This is hip in my time. Its got a good beat to dance to.�

Miriel grumbled under her breath, as Buffy continued to pull her along. The bulky bouncer standing outside the doors motioned them inside without so much as a second glance. The music was much, much louder once the two Slayers entered the building. Miriel jerked her arm free from her mentor�s grasp, clamping a hand over each ear in an attempt to deafen the horrid noise that Buffy called music.

Glaring at her prot�g�, the elder Slayer snatched Miriel by the elbow and pulled her through the throng of people, toward the dance floor. Several of the individuals that they had passed sneered at the young, tall Slayer, finding it rather insulting that she covered her ears to muffle the music of one of their favorite bands.

Of course, Buffy noticed this immediately. Though they were in a dream, she found herself embarrassed by her prot�g�s actions. �Will you stop it!� she shouted over the din, tugging on Miriel�s nearest arm.

�This noise is hurting my head!� yelled the girl in response, unfazed by the scornful looks of those in the establishment.

Look at them[/], she thought, not bothering to hide the look of disgust on her face. Her eyes lingered on those on the dance floor. [i]Gyrating their privates against each other. How truly sad it is that society has devolved to this. Do these people have no moral decency? And for the love of the Valar, why would Buffy bring me to such a place? What purpose could this possibly serve? Surely, she doesn�t expect me to emulate these degenerates!

�Will you stop that!� growled the elder Slayer once again. This time, she forcefully removed Miriel�s hands from her ears. �You�re making an ass outta yourself!�

�I don�t care,� Miriel snapped in reply. �I don�t like it here.� She couldn�t help but notice the couple standing nearby, groping each other as they rammed their tongues down each other�s throats. �I have no desire to witness such debauchery.�

�Come on, Miriel. Lighten up!� begged Buffy. �This is supposed to be a fun outing.�

�If you think this is my idea of fun, then you do not know me at all!�

An ear-piercing shriek, (one that could be heard over the noise of the band), ended the possibility of any further argument. Not a second later, others near the main door, cried out. The high-pitched squeals of fear were not lost on either Slayer. The sudden commotion instantly stirred up the crowd, who began to push and shove their neighbors in an attempt to get a better look at what was going on.

�Can you see anything?� asked Buffy, craning her neck to see what was causing the ruckus. Jostled by those people standing next to her and Miriel, the elder Slayer grabbed her prot�g�s arm to prevent them from becoming separated in the crowd.

The much taller Slayer stood on her tippy-toes, trying to get a better view. A wave of people swept backward, in their direction, toppling over some of the girls unable to keep their balance in their high-healed shoes.

One by one, the members of the band stopped playing. Feedback from one of the electric guitars diverted Miriel�s attention to the stage. She watched as the band fled the raised platform. A tall, skinny guy rammed into her, nearly knocking her off balance. He then quickly disappeared into the thickening mob.

With Buffy clinging to her arm, the young Slayer shifted her gaze back to the front of the building. She now had a clearer view of what was going on. Some type of brawl was taking place.

�Looks like rabble-rousers,� she informed her mentor. �Out for a night of mischief, I guess.� She then spotted the faces of these newcomers; they were unlike the other patrons in the Bronze. Their faces were distorted, bumpy. �Wait a minute,� she added quickly, as her heart began to beat frantically in her chest. She noticed the yellow-colored eyes and fangs, fangs dripping with blood. �These are not people.� She looked down at Buffy, her eyes widening. �I think� I think they�re vampires.� Miriel had never seen an actual vampire in the flesh, but by all accounts, these things, these creatures fit the profile.

�Then you know what needs to be done,� said Buffy in a take-charge kind of voice.

Feeling slightly panicky, Miriel replied with, �I have no weapon. No sword. No dagger. No nothing.�

�You are a weapon,� the elder Slayer reminded her. �Now let�s kick some vampire ass!�

Of course, Buffy had planned this whole incident. She hoped a bit of fighting would help Miriel let out some of her frustrations after Glorfindel�s rejection. Not only that, but it would also be good practice. Her prot�g� had never faced any vampires in the dreamscape before. Since it looked like Miriel would soon be departing Rivendell, it wouldn�t hurt for her to get in a little one-on-one combat experience with some vamps. There was always the possibility that she�d actually come across these types of villains in her world.

The two Slayers then began to push their way through the horde toward the melee that was becoming more chaotic by the minute.

I am a weapon, Miriel kept repeating to herself. She wasn�t too keen on the idea of confronting the enemy without so much as a knife, and had to constantly remind herself that she had strength far greater than ordinary mortals.

With so many people in the Bronze, it was hard to determine the number of vampires that had invaded the club. Though, through the pandemonium, Miriel noticed that a few of the creatures had separated from their kinsmen. Little did she know these vamps were heading to the other doors, wanting to bar any from escaping.

That innate instinct to slay kicked into overdrive. Pulling her arm free from Buffy�s grasp, the young Slayer took off after her prey who was heading backstage, from where the band had fled only moments before.

�Miriel!� Buffy shouted after her prot�g�. She preferred having the young Slayer close to her side, just in case things went amiss. Unfortunately, the din drowned out her voice.

The long-legged Slayer swiftly caught up to the vampire near the steps, leading to the stage. �You�re not supposed to be here,� she said.

The vamp, dressed entirely in black, spun around, growling. He then leapt at Miriel, his mouth widening, revealing his fangs that glistened in the dim light. The young girl caught him in mid-air, one hand on his throat, the other between his legs. She heaved the villain up over her head before tossing him toward the stage. The vampire flew through the air and crashed into the drum set, scattering the various pieces about.

Miriel bound onto the stage. As she charged toward her prey, who was trying to unbury himself from the various drums and cymbals, she thought of the various ways in which one kills a vampire. Stake through the heart. Beheading. Fire. Sunlight, she repeated in her mind.

She flipped through the air, landing astride the vamp. He snarled, lifting his head from the floor, snapping at her in a feral way.

The young Slayer pressed one hand on her foe�s throat, keeping his head pinned down as her balled fish crashed into his nose. She could hear the crack the instant her knuckles made contact. Blood poured from his nostrils, as the beastly creature twisted and turned beneath her, trying to throw her off. She tightened her legs around his, preventing him from dislodging her. Her second punch struck him square in the mouth. A few of his front teeth broke from the impact, including one fang, which somehow raked across the flesh of her hand, breaking the skin.

Momentarily distracted by her wound, the vampire grabbed hold of the snare drum and knocked it into the side of Miriel�s head. With the young Slayer dazed by the sudden strike, the villain was able to grab a handful of her hair and pulled with such force that Miriel toppled off him, and into the bass drum.

�You fuckin� bitch,� he snarled, his speech sounding strange because of his missing teeth. Blood continued to stream from his nose and mouth as he climbed on top of Miriel, clamping his legs around hers, as she had done to him. He pinned her arms over her head.

Miriel was startled by the vampire�s unexpected strength. She couldn�t believe that, in a split second, things had changed, and that her foe had gained the upper hand. But a lot can happen in a moment�s time. As the blood streamed from the vamp�s nostrils, raining down upon Miriel�s face, she was reminded of the horrors of her past, which vividly flashed into her mind. Instead of some unknown villain upon her, she saw the face of D�ilin. In that instant, her adrenaline kicked into overdrive. There was no way she�d allow a repeat of those earlier events.

Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion, though, in actuality, things were moving rather quickly. As the vamp began to lower his head, eager to sink his one fang into the throbbing artery of her neck, Miriel�s head shot up, striking her assailant�s skull with a loud crack, causing both to see stars for a few seconds. Despite the sudden, splitting headache, the young Slayer threw off the villain. His head smashed into the bass drum, breaking the covering, and disappearing inside.

As she dove on top of the creature, her eyes spotted a long, slender stick protruding from beneath the overturned cymbals on the floor. A stake, she thought to herself as she grabbed the weapon and plunged it into the vampire�s un-beating heart. Miriel was amazed to see the vamp explode into a pile of dust, and how her body suddenly plopped to the floor when her enemy was no more.

Using the sleeve of her sweater, she wiped the blood from her face. She rose to her feet and looked out into the mass of people. Many had just witnessed her moment of triumph and stood there in shock, with their jaws agape. Miriel�s eyes darted to Buffy, who was engaged in combat with several vamps. Wanting to assist her mentor, the young Slayer got a running start and did a summersault off the stage, landing in a gap within the crowd. The people stepped backwards, forming a pathway for the girl to continue the assault with her fellow Slayer.

Having come back to her senses, to the present, Miriel marched down the path, clutching the drumstick tightly in her right hand. Though the threat of D�ilin was simply a mirage, the whole experience had lit a fire in her belly. She wanted nothing more than to kill every single vampire herself.

As she neared the fray by the front door, a female vamp charged her, shouting, �You killed my lover, slut!�

A wry smile came to Miriel�s face, as the angry monster swiftly approached. Perhaps the woman fiend was distraught over her loss, or maybe she just lacked that enhanced physical strength that her kind normally possessed, but as the two came face-to-face, the young Slayer easily subdued her, quipping, �How heartbreaking for you,� before thrusting the drumstick into the bloodsucker�s chest. She vanished in a poof of dust.

�Hey! Looks like I�m rubbing off on you!� said Buffy proudly, as she delivered a roundhouse kick, sending a vamp flying in Miriel�s direction.

Grabbing the foe that came soaring into her arms, the young Slayer drove the wooden weapon into his chest, smiling as she eliminated yet another villain.

Buffy let Miriel slay the rest of the vamps, happy to see, that with each kill, the girl�s mood improved that much more.

When all was over, the two Slayers lounged about on one of the pool tables, sipping cappuccinos while they basked in Miriel�s victory. The Bronze was devoid of people, except for the orchestra on the stage. Though Buffy wasn�t fond of classical music, she thought it would be a fitting end after a successful night of slaying. It was Miriel�s night after all.

�Thank you, Buffy,� said a grateful Miriel, licking the whipped cream from her fingertip. �This has been a wonderful night. I needed it.�

�I know you did. I�m glad I could help out,� replied the elder Slayer with a smile.

�I�ll tell you, though: vampires are much stronger than I thought,� Miriel confessed. �And, it�s rather nice to see that their bodies turn to dust.� She eyed the nearby piles on the floor. �You don�t have to worry about decay, and the stench, or the carrion fowl giving away your position to the enemy. It�s a shame there aren�t more of these creatures in Middle-earth.�

�Oh, they�re there,� answered Buffy with a knowing glint in her eye. �You just haven�t come across them yet. But, you will.� She lifted her cup. �Now you know you can beat them.� She clanked her cup against Miriel�s. �Cheers!�

As they each sipped their hot, frothy coffees, they heard someone, from above, clapping slowly. The orchestra had ceased playing, and both Slayers� eyes darted to the upper level. There, leaning against the railing, was a lone figure, cloaked entirely in black from head to toe. There were no discernible features other than that the form was man-shaped. His face was concealed by the hood of his cloak.

As the Slayers gaped at this unexpected visitor, he stopped his applause, and gripped the upper railing with his leather-gloved hands. �I suppose congratulations are in order, seeing as you�ve defeated your enemy,� he proclaimed coolly. There was an air of arrogance about the stranger, and even though he was some distance away, both girls could feel power emanating from his very essence. If that wasn�t bad enough, his mere presence instantly instilled fear and dread into the hearts of both Slayers, which neither revealed to the other.

�But, on the other hand, that�s bound to happen when one is in a controlled environment,� he added. The darkly clad intruder slowly walked along the railing, one hand brushing across the topmost bar. �This,� he waved his other hand, �is naught but a fantasy, an illusion devised for the sole purpose of arousing confidence in one who lacks true combat experience.�

Though Miriel couldn�t see this person�s eyes, she could feel them boring into her nonetheless. She assumed that this scenario was something that Buffy had set up. That is, until her mentor leaned forward and anxiously whispered, �Who�s that?�

�You don�t know,� hissed Miriel in reply.

�No. I thought you were doing this.�

�I thought it was you,� gulped the younger Slayer.

�I am responsible,� bellowed the man in a voice so chilling that the hair on both Slayers� necks suddenly stood on end. �My powers far surpass that of any Slayer � past, present, and future.� He then began to slowly descend the staircase, which was only a yard or so away from the pool table that the young ladies were sitting upon.

Both Slayers were absolutely stunned that an interloper had the ability to enter their dreams uninvited. It had never happened before and both young women found it rather unsettling.

Buffy was the first Slayer to speak. �Who are you?� she asked, trying to be nonchalant as she set her cup of coffee on the green felt surface of the pool table.

�I am the one whose name all fear to utter,� he replied with a sinister cackle. �I am evil incarnate.�

Sauron, thought a terrified Miriel. A sudden coldness swept through the room, so chilling was it that the young Slayer trembled all over. She was shaking so badly that her coffee sloshed over the lip of her cup and onto her hand. Yet that penetrating cold was so great that she didn�t feel the scalding liquid burning her flesh.

Then, to her amazement, Buffy rose to her feet, seemingly undaunted by the menacing figure that was growing larger the closer he got. �Just so you know � I�m the incarnation of good,� she boldly declared, challenging the darkly clad intruder.

The black figure stopped on the steps, about halfway down. The tension was insurmountable. Slowly, he raised his left arm. And then, out of the blue, Buffy went flying through the air backwards, as if she had been hit by an invisible blow. She crashed into the wall of the Bronze with a loud bang, before falling in a heap to the floor.

Miriel�s eyes grew twice their size. She was frozen, unable to move. All she could hear was her heavy breathing and her heart racing in her chest. She had been seized by such utter terror that she thought she had wet herself, when, in fact, she had dropped her cup, spilling the coffee between her legs.

Then she heard his voice, only inches from behind. He was so close; she could feel the warmth of his breath. �You�re frightened. That is good,� whispered the hooded figure in that chilling voice of his. �You and I shall meet again ere the end. Until then� farewell, Dagnir, daughter of Denethor.� And then he was gone. The frigid cold that had pervaded the Bronze vanished in an instant, and the large space became warm once again.

�Buffy!� she cried out, clambering off the table and rushing to Buffy�s side. She was so afraid that her mentor had been seriously injured by the Dark Lord, whose powers were rivaled by none outside of Valinor.

When she heard Buffy groan groggily, she let out a sigh of relief. �Are you alright? Are you hurt?� she frantically asked, as she helped ease the elder Slayer upright, into a sitting position.

�I�m okay. Got the wind knocked out of me.� Buffy�s eyes went to the stairway. �Where is he?� Her eyes swiftly swept across the interior of the Bronze, anxiously searching for the villain.

�He�s gone. He�s left,� replied Miriel.

�Was that� was that� � For some reason, Buffy found herself unable to finish her sentence.

�I think so,� answered the young Slayer, nodding her head. �I�ve never seen him in the flesh, but so few have.�

�So does he have like invisible fists or something?� she moaned, rubbing the back of her throbbing head.

�I don�t know,� responded Miriel with a shake of her head. �He�s a Maia. And they�re very powerful beings.�

Thinking of her own plight with Glory, Buffy murmured, �God-like, huh?�

�Yes, I suppose you could say that.� While relieved that her mentor was not seriously injured, Miriel was still shaken up over the fact that Sauron had somehow found a way into her and Buffy�s dream world. �How did he get in here, Buffy?� Both her tone and face were grave.

�I don�t know,� answered her mentor, using Miriel to help herself get back on her feet. �You did say he has God-like powers. It looks like he�s decided to use them.�

Though the cloaked figure had been gone for several minutes, an air of lingering fear was left in his wake. Miriel was incredibly frightened by the whole experience. It was a shame, for the night had started out so well.

�One thing�s obvious,� Buffy continued, limping away from the wall. �He feels threatened by you, Miriel.�

�Me? Sauron feels threatened by me?� exclaimed the young Slayer in disbelief. She couldn�t fathom the likes of Sauron being threatened by her, at all.

�Maybe it�s because you�re one of those that dare to utter his name,� replied Buffy, rubbing both the back of her head and her hip. She looked at Miriel, and for the first time noticed the wet spot between her legs. �Did you pee your pants?�

�No!� she shot back somewhat defensively and feeling suddenly embarrassed. �I was shaking so badly that I spilt my coffee.�

Though still in pain, Buffy raised a skeptical eyebrow. �Uh-huh,� sounding none too convinced. Her eyes did another quick scan of the interior of the Bronze. �I think this place is beginning to lose its luster, to me, anyway.�

As they took their next step the two Slayers disappeared in a momentary whirling of light, and reappeared in a place Miriel had never been before.

�Where are we?� asked the younger Slayer, her eyes scanning this new environment.

Buffy hobbled from the living room into the kitchen. �It�s Giles� apartment.�

Miriel�s gaze stopped at the coffee table, which was laden with many thick books. �Your Watcher?�

�Yeah,� answered the elder Slayer, opening the freezer in search of an ice pack. �I think we�ll be safe here.� Truth be told, Buffy actually needed a minute to herself, to collect her thoughts. Sauron�s unexpected visit had really freaked her out, and she was trying her best to hide that fact from her prot�g�. She couldn�t figure out how the Maia had managed to enter this little dream world that she and Miriel had conjured up, and if he would return again.

Grabbing an icepack, she shut the freezer door, wondering if Sauron had been eavesdropping on their earlier conversations and had only decided to reveal himself tonight. She shuddered after placing the pack against her head, unsure whether it was the ice that caused her to tremble or if it was some aftereffect caused by the Dark Lord�s presence. She couldn�t help but think that she and Miriel were facing very similar enemies. Glory was one that Buffy saw no hope of defeating, and the same thing could be said for her prot�g�. That Sauron guy had given off some wickedly scary vibes.

�You can make the pain go away, or have you forgotten that,� remarked Miriel, watching Buffy as she made her way back into the living room.

�Sometimes pain is for the good,� replied the elder Slayer. She was hoping that the soreness in her body would help distract her from her thoughts. So far, it didn�t appear to be working. Sauron was occupying her thoughts too much for her liking.

Buffy plopped down on the couch with a moan.

�What happens now?� asked a nervous Miriel, taking a seat beside her mentor.

The elder Slayer leaned back on the sofa, keeping the icepack pressed to her head. �I don�t know,� she said with a sigh. She then closed her eyes, thinking of this new predicament.

Both Slayers sat there in silence, each consumed with her own thoughts. That is, until a light tapping on the door pulled Miriel out of the dreamscape and roused her from her slumber.



Her eyes popped open, only to find that she was back in her darkened bedchamber in Rivendell. Undoubtedly, it was four o�clock in the morning, and Glorfindel, keeping with their routine, had come to get her to begin preparing the morning meal for the household. Miriel remained silent, refusing to answer. After a few minutes, the Noldo gave up, and left.

When the young Slayer was sure that the Elf Lord had gone, she lit the lamp beside her bed. She was now wide-awake, and had the strong urge to pee. She wasn�t sure if that was from the coffee incident or all the wine she had drunk the night before. Regardless, if she didn�t relieve herself rather quickly, she would end up wetting herself.

Now that she was back in the real world, thoughts of Sauron were replaced by those of Glorfindel. Even though she was still brokenhearted, she wasn�t about to get all weepy again. At this point, Miriel more or less felt numb. She climbed out of bed and wandered over to the wardrobe that barricaded the door. Not wanting to wake anyone in the house by scrapping the feet of the cabinet against the floor, she took several deep breaths (praying that her bladder wouldn�t empty) before lifting the heavy wardrobe and moving it just enough so she could squeeze out the door. Grabbing a few personal items, she crept quietly down the corridor to the nearest bathroom.

After peeing and washing up, Miriel returned to her room and barricaded the door. Using the wet towel she had brought with her, she then proceeded to clean up the vomit from the wicker basket and floor, gagging in the process. It seemed the wetness of the cloth awakened the sour smell in the foul substance that had partially congealed overnight. Once she had most of the sickness mopped up, she placed the soiled towel in the far corner of the room, furthest away from her. She felt too drained to move the wardrobe again so that she could place the towel in the receptacle for things that needed to be laundered.

Miriel then changed back into her traveling clothes. She lay back down on the bed, waiting for daybreak, pondering her next move. After the disaster of last night, there was no way she could remain in Rivendell. As far as she was concerned, she�d never be able to look Glorfindel in the eye again. Her dilemma was whether she should leave on her own, or join the Rangers in the hunt, as was expected of her. While contemplating the choices before her, she drifted off to sleep.

She was snapped awake when she heard someone knocking on her bedchamber door. Upon opening her eyes, she could see that light flooded the room. It was morning. Eight thirty-seven to be exact. She assumed that Glorfindel had returned after breakfast.

�Go away,� she cried out, sounding more like a young child than a young woman.

�Miriel. Please open the door.�

The young Slayer shot upright in bed. That wasn�t Glorfindel, nor Elladan or Elrohir, not even Arwen. Elrond, the Lord of Rivendell himself, was standing outside her door. He had never paid a visit, to her room or otherwise, since their initial meeting weeks and weeks ago.

Unable to refuse the command of the master of the house, Miriel sprang out of bed and ran over to the wardrobe. She awkwardly placed her arms around the cabinet, heaved it off the floor, and moved it back to its original spot. By the time she opened the door, she was panting.

�Winded, are we?� he remarked, offering her a small smile.

There was no doubt in Miriel�s mind that Elrond knew that she had blocked the doorway with the heavy piece of furniture. Still trying to catch her breath, she made no response.

�We grew concerned when we did not see you at breakfast,� he continued. The Lord of Imladris paused for a moment or two, perhaps waiting for the Slayer to reply. When she did not, he asked, �May I come in?�

She nodded, swinging the door further open. Noticing her unmade bed, she made a beeline towards it. She didn�t want Elrond to think she was a pig.

�There�s no need to worry about that,� said the Elf Lord lightheartedly, as he shut the door behind him. He glanced around the room. His eyes stopped for a second on the skid marks from the wardrobe that marred his floor, but he didn�t comment on that. Instead, he said, �Have a seat,� patting the foot of the bed as he passed it by. He went over to the corner and grabbed the chair, which he then carried nearer to the bed.

Miriel quickly combed her hair with her fingers as she sat on the edge of the mattress. She felt extremely nervous in Elrond�s presence. She kept her gaze fixed on her lap, fidgeting with her fingers.

�I�ve heard about what happened last night,� Elrond said softly. �I cannot help but feel that I�m partially to blame.�

Miriel�s eyes darted to the Elf Lord, surprised to hear him say such a thing.

�You and Glorfindel had bonded so quickly that it gave me hope that he could help heal the wounds in your heart. I thought he would be the perfect substitute for a father and encouraged him to spend as much time with you as he could.�

The Slayer was crushed when she heard that, thinking that Elrond, Lord of Imladris, had forced the mighty Noldo to spend time with her.

Her facial expression must have changed, or the Elf Lord perceived her thoughts, for he quickly added, �No one can force Glorfindel do something he does not want to do himself, Miriel. He does love you! But, as a daughter, not a lover.�

Miriel could feel the blood rushing to her cheeks. She swiftly shifted her eyes back to her lap. The whole topic of conversation was making the Slayer highly uncomfortable.

�I can see that once again I�m making you ill at ease,� Elrond sighed. �You�d think that for one who has lived as long as I have, I would have great wisdom in matters of the heart. But alas, that is not so. I am a lore-master, a healer, and a warrior at need. These things I have learned to master over time. Love is something that strikes at the most unexpected of times, and I did not foresee Glorfindel rousing these� feelings in you until it was too late.�

By now, Miriel�s face was beet red. She just wished Elrond would stop talking about this. She thought the less she talked about it, the quicker she�d get over it.

�I�m� I�m over it,� she stammered, now fiddling with Bregolas� ring that hung from her neck.

The Lord of Imladris� brows shot upward. He knew that wasn�t true. Yet, he was no fool and could see that Miriel was desperate for him to change the conversation to something else.

�Very well then,� he replied, watching as her cheeks began to turn to a pinkish hue. �My heart tells me that you�re eager to depart my lands. Is that true?�

�Yes,� she answered faintly. Lifting her head, she met Elrond�s gaze. �I�m quite grateful for all you�ve done for me.� The Slayer could feel her eyes beginning to tear up. �No one has ever been so generous, asking nothing of me in return. I wish there was some way I could repay you for your generosity.�

The Elf Lord offered her a kindly smile. �Your mere presence has brought such joy to my house. So few of mortal-kind have dwelled in Imladris, and never before has a Slayer set foot in these parts. My people and I have found your youthful perspective quite refreshing. So seldom has anyone shown such an interest in our lore save Bilbo Baggins, that is.� His smile broadened.

Miriel couldn�t help but chuckle softly at hearing Bilbo�s name mentioned. That Hobbit was quite the character. She sniffed back the tears that had been forming in her eyes.

�Bilbo is one of those rare few that has accepted my invitation to call Rivendell home,� Elrond continued. �Here, he will live in peace for the rest of his days, or so we all hope.� His face turned grave. �Not even the Elder can predict how long peace will last. For we fear that war will return to our borders one day, ending the bliss that we�ve known for so long.� He shook his head, wanting to push those gloomy thoughts out of his mind. Those with the gift of foresight believed that Rivendell would not see battle for many years to come.

His thoughts returned to Miriel and the perils that lay ahead of her. As lore-master he was well aware of how short lived a Slayer�s life was, and could unfortunately foresee that Miriel would not be an exception to that rule. A dark cloud lingered over this girl, one that portended that her doom was near. How could that knowledge not fill him with sadness and move him to pity? Hadn�t life been cruel enough to this young child?

�I want to make you the same offer as I made to Bilbo years ago,� Elrond continued.

Miriel�s eyes had darted back to her lap during that brief silence that fell between her and the Elf Lord. However, when he resumed speaking, she shifted her eyes back to him.

�Offer?� she queried, baffled.

�To forego your birthright, and live out the rest of your days here in Imladris under the protection of the Elves.�

The Slayer was totally blown away by Elrond�s proposition. How could she not see that was coming based on his previous comments? That made her feel stupid. Despite that, she was stunned by Elrond�s invitation. So many thoughts were swimming in her mind that she didn�t immediately answer. Instead, she rose from the bed and wandered over to one of the windows, peering outside.

Elrond followed her with his eyes, allowing her time to mull over his offer. Whilst he felt he already knew the answer, he wanted to hear it from her.

How fair Rivendell is, even at this time of year, Miriel thought. A part of her couldn�t believe that she could live here, with the Elves, if she so chose. That would be a dream come true. In that moment, thoughts of Bregolas popped into her mind. She could recall quite clearly his disdain for the Elves and wondered what he would�ve thought of her being here, living amongst them.

As she looked out upon the Misty Mountains, she was reminded of how she had left the fallen warrior out there, unburied and alone. The memory of the sudden attack by the Orcs on their encampment rushed to her mind. She could hear the noise of battle, the cries of pain. It was almost as if she was reliving it once again. She could even feel the weight of Bregolas� body, as she cradled him in her arms, and the despair that engulfed her when he had taken his last breath. A tear escaped from the corner of her eye, trickled down her face, and dripped off her chin. Miriel took a deep, shuddering breath as she wiped the dampness from her skin.

Folding her arms across her chest, she continued to stare out the window. �There was a time when I would�ve gladly accepted your offer, Lord Elrond,� she finally said. �How I�ve longed to meet the Elder since I was a small child, and now, I can say that I have. One of my dreams has come true.� She paused, finding it difficult to put her thoughts into words.

�Since the Valar have chosen me to be their instrument against the dark forces in Middle-earth, it would be wrong for me to walk away from my destiny.� She continued to stare transfixed at the mountainside. �I don�t know if I�ll accomplish any great feats of valor out there in the wilds, but I feel I have to try, that I have to use these special gifts to do what I can to aid the free people in this world.�

In a faraway voice, she said, �Into each generation, a Slayer is born� That�s me. This is my time, my time to shine.�

She then felt Elrond�s hands gripping her shoulders. �I think you�ve made the right choice,� he whispered. He slowly steered her around so that she faced him. �Know this, Miriel Dagnir: You will always be welcome in my home, by me and my people. When you find yourself growing weary, come back here, to your home, where everyone loves and respects you.�

Elrond�s words touched Miriel so deeply that she regretted having avoided him over the past few months. He was a decent man with a good heart and she could�ve learned so much from him, if she had given him the chance.

�Thank you,� she uttered, finding herself suddenly overwhelmed with emotion. If she spoke another word, she�d probably break down and cry.

The Lord of Imladris smiled, cupping her cheek with one hand. �You�re are an extraordinary, lovely young woman, Miriel, and any man that can win your heart should consider himself most fortunate.� Elrond left it at that. He then turned and left the chamber.

Miriel felt that she had made the right decision. As she shifted her gaze back out the window, she pondered what the future had in store for her. She hadn�t overlooked the fact that Lord Elrond had made no comments when she suggested that she might do great things on the battlefield. Maybe she would, maybe she wouldn�t. Regardless, she felt a hungering need to slay and the only way she could satisfy that urge was to leave Rivendell.

For nearly half an hour, Miriel stood there, silently staring out the window, consumed with her thoughts. She only snapped out of it when both Elladan and Elrohir came barging into her room, uninvited no less. Each Elf carried a bunch of cloth wrapped packages in his arms.

�We come bearing gifts,� announced Elrohir, dropping the packages on the bed.

�And muffins - for if you�re hungry, that is,� added Elladan.

Miriel strolled over to the bed, her wide eyes fixed on the presents. �What�s the occasion? It�s not my birthday.�

�Don�t get too excited. These are things you�ll need out on the road,� replied Elrohir, sitting on the bed. �Father says that you�re ready to leave Rivendell, and these things,� he waved his hands over the packages, �will come in handy out in the wilds.�

�Gee, Miriel, can you guess what this one is?� asked Elladan, holding up an object that looked to be shaped like a sword.

Taking a seat at the foot of the bed, she accepted the long, heavy package wrapped in blue and white material from the eldest twin. �Hmm, I can�t imagine what this could be,� she said, untying the string that kept the fabric together.

Elladan rolled his eyes, as he set the muffins on the nightstand. �I�m quite glad that you�re ready to go. It seems like we�ve been home for ages.�

�No one�s kept you here,� replied Miriel, her eyes shifting to the eldest twin, standing beside the bed. �You could�ve resumed the hunt without me.�

�Aragorn and Hal insisted that we wait for you,� said Elladan. �And, of course, in typical womanly fashion - you were in no hurry.�

Miriel turned her attention to the sword on her lap. She immediately recognized the hilt. It was her sword, the one that Bregolas had given her at the start of their journey, the one that had been broken while she was battling the trolls. Pulling the blade from its sheath, she could see that it had been repaired. As she inspected the blade, she couldn�t even tell where it had been broken.

�I�ve got to say: it�s a pleasant change to see a woman�s eyes light up at being given a sword,� chortled Elrohir. �You don�t see that very often.�

�I like weapons,� answered the Slayer. �Except for the bow,� she was quick to add.

Miriel ripped through the packages one by one. Most were new garments for the winter that lay ahead. She was also given new bags in which to pack her things, since her old bags were badly stained. Tears came to her eyes when she saw that she had been given her very own pair of elvish boots, the kind that prevents blisters from forming on one�s heels.

�You remembered,� she said, choking back the tears. She quickly pulled off her own man-made boots, eager to put on these new ones.

�Actually, they�re from� they�re from� Glorfindel,� responded Elladan hesitantly. Well aware of what had transpired the night before, the Elf was reluctant to mention the Noldo�s name.

When the twins noticed that Miriel didn�t react with some emotional outburst at the mention of Glorfindel�s name, Elrohir added, �They�re all from Glorfindel. He wanted to give them to you himself, but� well, under the circumstances� � He left it there.

�He thought it would be best that we brought these to you,� added Elladan.

Miriel felt an aching sorrow in her heart. These gifts were so thoughtful and would be very useful, but she just wasn�t ready to face Glorfindel, to thank him.

�When are we leaving?� she asked the twins, keeping her gaze on the stuff on her bed.

�Hey! You forgot this bag,� said Elrohir, tossing a draw-string bag on her lap. �It�s from Arwen. I think its female things, so don�t feel pressured to open it up in front of us.�

Elrohir tried to keep things lighthearted, as he could see the pained expression on the Slayer�s face.

�When do you want to leave?� asked Elladan, keening watching Miriel as well.

�I�m ready whenever everyone else is. We can go now if you so choose,� she replied.

�Ooh, I like the sound of that,� said Elrohir, rubbing his hands together. �I�m ready to hunt some Orcs or trolls, or whatever beastly creatures come our way.�

Miriel lifted her head. Though there was a frown on her face, her eyes glinted with an eagerness, an eagerness to slay. �Me too,� she added.

�Alright then,� said Elladan. �Get these things packed and we�ll inform our traveling companions.�

�I think they�ll be excited to leave at last,� added Elrohir, rising from the bed. �We�ll be back in a while. We need to see about getting our supplies together.�

The Slayer nodded.

The twins then left the room.

Miriel took her time, packing both her new and old things into her bags. If given the opportunity, she�d like to wear her old clothes in battle since they were already stained and worn. She nibbled on a muffin as she completed her task.

About fifteen minutes later the twins returned, garbed for the journey. �We�re all set,� announced Elrohir. �Finished?�

�I think so,� replied Miriel, girding Bregolas� sword around her waist. She then heaved her bags over her shoulders. �Now, I�m ready.�

�Wonderful. Aragorn and Halbarad are waiting on the porch,� said Elladan, heading toward the door.

Miriel cast one last glance around the room, wondering if she�d ever sleep in here again. Taking a deep breath, she slowly exhaled, following the twins out of the room and down the corridor leading to the staircase.

Apparently, word of her leaving had already spread throughout the house. Those Elves that she passed bid her farewell, wishing her luck on the hunt.

�Be safe, Dagnir!� said Amdir, giving her a quick hug on the staircase. �And hurry back.�

The Slayer was somewhat surprised to see that she was becoming emotional over her departure. How strange it seemed that these people had greatly affected her in such a short amount of time. She�d miss them. She�d miss them all.

Choking back her tears, she continued to follow the twins down the last steps, through the vestibule and onto the front porch. Miriel first noticed Aragorn and Arwen off by themselves, holding hands, staring deeply into each others eyes as they said their good-byes. Congregated at the bottom of the steps were Elrond, Erestor and to Miriel�s horror - Glorfindel.

Her heart felt as if it had dropped to the pit of her stomach, and she became tingly all over. Though it was rather cold outside, she instantly felt hot, probably from embarrassment at having to face the one person she wished to avoid.

Not realizing that she had frozen to the spot where she had noticed the Noldo, Elladan nudged her forward.

�It�ll be over before you know it,� he whispered.

Grateful that she hadn�t eaten much that morning, Miriel began to descend the steps, her feet feeling as if they had been turned into lead blocks.

Glorfindel broke away from the other Lords, making his way toward the Slayer.

�Can we have a word?� he said. It really wasn�t a question for the Elf Lord took her gently by the arm and led her away from the others.

Miriel�s mouth felt dry. Her stomach churned and that prickly sensation seemed to intensify.

She and the Noldo stopped several yards away from the everyone else.

�I�m truly sorry about last night,� said Glorfindel, his tone riddled with sadness. �The last thing I would want to do is cause you pain.�

The Slayer refused to meet his gaze, preferring to stare at her feet. �Don�t worry about it.�

�I do worry about it,� he replied. �It grieves me that things have become strained between us. You mean a great deal to me, Miriel, and I do not want us to part without this being resolved.�

�It�s fine. Everything�s fine,� Miriel lied.

Glorfindel gently lifted her chin, forcing the Slayer to meet his gaze. �You�re like the daughter I�ve never had. And I do love you dearly. You take care out there. Be careful. Don�t do anything� hasty.� He gave her a reassuring smile. �Patience is important in battle. There is no need to rush into things. Use care!�

�I will,� she answered, swallowing the lump in her throat.

Tears filled the Noldo�s grey eyes, as he pulled her into a tight embrace. �I will miss you terribly. Promise you�ll return soon. Promise me that, Miriel,� the Elf said.

Miriel couldn�t help but feel safe in Glorfindel�s arms. If only� �I promise,� she vowed, finding her own eyes beginning to burn with tears.

When the Elf Lord pulled out of the hug, the Slayer could see a tear rolling down his cheek. That touched her very deeply. �Please, be careful. Remember everything we�ve practiced and you�ll do fine. Come back soon, Miriel.� Glorfindel then leaned forward and kissed Miriel on the forehead. His soft, warm lips caused her heart to flutter. He gave her another hug, his cheek brushing against hers. She could feel another warm tear trickling down her face. �Farewell, my dear Miriel. Farewell.�

Too overcome with emotion, Glorfindel swept passed her and back toward the house.

Miriel struggled to keep it together. �Glorfindel!� she shouted after him.

The Elf Lord looked over his shoulder and the Slayer could see tears streaming down his beautiful face.

�Thank you! Thank you for everything!� she said, choking back her own tears.

The Noldo gave a curt nod of his head before flying up the steps of the porch and disappearing into the house.

Trying to retain her composure, Miriel waited for the others. When all had said their good-byes, they set out on their journey, not knowing what new perils awaited them on the road�