Full Circle

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: NORMAL, AGAIN



Buffy summoned her handmaidens and instructed them to take the twins to a different chamber and clothe them. When they left, she started bitching at Marto as she dressed.

“You knew that this was gonna happen, didn’t you?” she asked, as she pulled the red gown over her head.

The Maia feigned a look of innocence as he did the clasps on his robe. “I knew that the probability was there, yes,” he confessed after a long pause. “But if you had stopped using your feminine wiles on me, then we would only have had one child.”

“Me?” she questioned with an air of disbelief. “It takes two to tango mister! And… and you were most definitely… up for it!” she countered. “And who was it that suggested this… ‘adjoining’ spell in the first place? Hmm,” she questioned with her hands on her hips.

“It does not matter where the blame lies. What’s done is done. Do not fret over creating life. It’s a beautiful and wondrous thing.” He smiled and attempted to pull her into an embrace.

“Don’t touch me!” barked Buffy threateningly. “We might… have more kids or something.”

He chuckled until he felt the Slayer’s icy stare. “I can assure you that my touch will not produce any more children, unless we… ”

“Don’t even think about it!” snapped Buffy, waving a finger in his face. She then began to pace. “So was this some sick ploy to get me to stay? You know how bad I want to go home and now… now I’m forced to stay because… ”

“Nobody is going to force you to stay. Our children are full-grown and with a little guidance, they will be invaluable to you and your quest… ” Buffy sat on the edge of the bed with her face in her hands. She couldn’t believe this was happening to her. “It will be fine, Maranwë,” said Marto in his most reassuring voice. He kneeled before her. “You now have the strength to return to Beleriand or wherever it is that you have the need to go.” He continued to speak soothingly until she calmed down.

“Marto, answer something for me,” she said softly. “How is it that the twins are like adults? I mean, they’re full-grown people. I know they already know how to talk, they obviously know how to walk, and I sense that they wield some powerful magic.” She looked into his blue eyes. “When I had Illyria, she was little, a baby… a monster baby, but a baby nonetheless.”

“My dear Maranwë,” he said as he took her hands. “You were physically impregnated by Melkor. Your body carried that child to term. The twins came from our essence, which is clearly quite different. They are merely a manifestation of our combined energies. They possess the same powers that we do, only a little less, and they were born knowing the ways of this world. We gave that to them, Maranwë. They are a part of us.”

Once the Slayer got over the initial shock, both she and Marto went to speak to the children. When they entered the chamber, the twins were thankfully dressed. Buffy’s handmaidens were busy adorning them with various pieces of jewelry.

“Why is their skin gold with the funny symbol-looking thingys?” she whispered to Marto.

“The colors represent their parentage,” he softly replied. “The symbols are Valinorean script.”

The Slayer fell quiet as she watched the kids examining the gemstones that they wore. Buffy had always assumed that one day she’d fall in love, get married and THEN have children. And she did not consider herself married to Morgoth by any means. His treachery made that ‘union’ invalid. But now, here she was, with three children, and none of them were conceived out of love. Perhaps lust, but not love.

It was at that moment that the son approached his parents.

“Mother, father,” he said as he bowed his head to each one. “On behalf of my sister and myself, I thank you for giving us life, but I wonder… are you going to give us names or shall we name ourselves?” he asked as he cast a glance to his sister.

“Oh,” replied a dumbfounded Buffy. Her newborn child was actually asking if she was going to name him! Even though that was bizarre in itself, the Slayer knew that anything was possible in this world. She never knew what she might encounter when she turned a corner here. Just like the twins. She never saw that coming!

The Slayer looked at Marto for a moment before answering, “Since I’m your mother, I’ll name you… ”

“Perhaps a variation of your own name,” suggested Marto. Buffy glared at him for a moment before shaking her head no.

“Hmm,” began Buffy as she studied her son. While she stood there looking at each child, her heart became filled with love for them. Regardless of how they came into being, they were here now and were a part of her. The Slayer could see that their role in upcoming events would be crucial.

After a few minutes, she decided on their names. “You, my son, I will name Anno, because you most certainly are a ‘gift’ beyond all measure.” Buffy cupped his face in her hands and kissed him on the forehead. “A surname I will give to you as well: Pythius, which is from a language that has not yet been contrived in this world.” She smiled as she glanced at her daughter, who seemed preoccupied with the many rings that were on her fingers.

“Come here, daughter,” instructed Buffy. The woman rose to her feet and came before her mother. “Both you and I have a love for jewels and that name I will give you; Mírë. For you are the ‘jewel’ of my heart.” The Slayer smiled as she kissed her daughter on the forehead . “To you, I will bestow the surname of Delphi.” Buffy looked at Marto with a smile. He nodded his head approvingly. “I know that they’re great seers and will help me in my upcoming campaign.”

Buffy literally spent every minute of the next two weeks in the company of her children. At the end of that time, the twins suggested that she return to Middle-earth. They understood their mother’s eagerness to return to Beleriand and the Queen was comforted knowing that it was their idea. She planned to depart Sussrúmnir in her lion drawn chariot. For the first time, she really appreciated this gift because she was able to laden the cart with even more treasures from Folkvang than before. She wanted to take as many priceless gifts with her as she could haul. Buffy had so much jewelry on her body that Mr. T would have been envious. In addition, the pockets of her cloak were filled with things that one did not find in Beleriand, such as oranges, lemons, kiwi, cocoa and coffee beans. She was unable to take the pineapple she had with her; there just wasn’t enough room. She had the Orb of Thezula in her possession as well as the mail that Thingol had had made for her long ago.

After bidding farewell to her loved ones, she instructed the lions to head east. Buffy could still hear the minstrels’ sweet voices as Kit and Kat gathered speed. They soon became airborne and a few minutes later, they disappeared in a blinding flash of white light. Yes, the Slayer was now able to transport objects and other living creatures through inter-dimensions with her renewed powers.

They reappeared shortly thereafter, about two hundred yards from the entrance to the mystical fortress. The lions gracefully descended from the sky but at great speed. “Watch out! Watch out! Watch out!” she cried out. They were about to careen into a stand of evergreen trees that Buffy had no memory of being there the last time she was here. The lions stopped only inches away from the nearest tree. The Slayer let out a sigh of relief. A couple of her trunks managed to slide off the chariot and broke open, flinging many valuables onto the grass.

“That’s just great,” she mumbled under her breath, as she jumped off the chariot and started collecting the priceless artifacts from the ground.

“Hoom… hmm!” She heard from behind her. The Slayer then noticed a large shadow on the grass in front of her. Something was lurking over her shoulder.

She quickly turned around and saw an Onod. A he Onod. At least, she assumed that since it had a long mossy beard. He looked at her peculiarly before saying, “You must be Luinil.”

The Slayer got to her feet and looked up at the fourteen plus foot Onod. “How’d you know my name?” she asked.

“We have been… hoom… checking on the saplings. They’re growing nicely,” answered the Onod. “Besides, I have come to know Luthor well.” Buffy then noticed that the saplings had grown considerably since she had last seen them.

“Oh, is Thônel here?” queried the Slayer as she looked past this Onod to others that were gathered round him. “I haven’t seen her in a while and I’d like to say hi.”

Thônel was not present. Buffy learned that this Onod was called Fangorn. They chatted while she continued to pick up her treasures. She offered the Shepherd an emerald (since he was a tree and all), but he said that he had no need for gems of any sort.

Once she had all her belongings back in the chariot, she bid farewell to the Enyd before returning to the entrance. She unharnessed the lions and together they passed through the mystical barrier.

The first person that Buffy encountered was Dvalin, who nearly fainted at the sight of her… and the lions. “My Lady!” he exclaimed as he let his hammer fall to the ground. “At long last you have returned to us.” His eyes welled with tears as he wrapped his arms around her waist. Buffy was shocked, dwarves were not known as an affectionate people.

“Where’s Luthor?” she asked the dwarf.

“I shall take you to him, Freya,” he replied, nervously glancing at the cats. Buffy assured Dvalin that Kit and Kat would not eat him or anyone else. He seemed unsure of her words and kept a firm grip on his sledgehammer. The Dwarf Lord was prepared to use his tool as a weapon if the need presented itself.

“Holy shit!” she exclaimed, when they reached the ‘prison’ chamber. “You guys have been busy beavers,” she remarked. The last time Buffy was at the fortress, there was what she referred to as ‘The Pit’ in the center of this chamber. Now, in its place, was a deep, deep hole that spanned nearly the entire chamber. An iron causeway had been built crossing the hole from the northern shelf to the southern one.

Buffy peered over the railing and looked into the depths. She could hear the pounding sounds of the dwarves picks and hammers far below; she could barely see them. It must have been a few hundred feet to the bottom. She was very impressed.

“We have labored long and hard for you, my Lady,” replied Dvalin proudly. “Once we dwarves set our minds to something, we see it through to the end.” Buffy noticed the sparkle in his eyes which were transfixed on the gemstones that hung from her neck.

“I can see that,” she replied as they continued across the platform to the gates that led to their dwellings. “Here,” she said as she pulled off several necklaces and handed them to him. “These are for you,” she continued. “I’ve got more on my chariot. Will you have my trunks brought in?”

“Certainly Freya,” he replied, wide-eyed. He was the first dwarf to ever set eyes on gemstones, which were the creation of the Noldor elves in Valinor. “Thank you, my Lady.” He bowed several times and then departed. Buffy lost sight of him as he went around a bend in the tunnel.

The Slayer found Luthor holding court with the spirits of the slain in his ‘throne’ room. His mouth curled into a small smile when she entered. When their eyes met, the smile left Luthor’s face. She crossed the chamber and climbed up the steps of the dais to his high chair. Neither uttered a single word as Luthor held his arms open, his eyes were filled with both joy and sorrow. Buffy crawled into his lap, wrapped her arms around his neck and sobbed into his shoulder. It had been too long since she had seen her most trustworthy friend, the only person in Arda that she could truly confide in.

“Oh god, Luthor, I’ve missed you!” She blubbered. “There’s so much I need to tell you. You can’t imagine all the stuff that’s happened since I last saw you.”

“Bella, my Bella. Shh,” he replied as he stroked the back of her head. “I’ve been so worried about you. I have not heard anything from you in so long.”

It took Buffy a while to regain her composure. She hadn’t expected to break down like that, but for some reason when her eyes locked with his, something inside her snapped. And for the first time ever, she felt an overwhelming need to discuss the torments that Morgoth had subjected her to while under his spell. But she knew that now was neither the time nor the place to do it. That would be selfish considering the fact that there were seventeen dwarf spirits in that very chamber, waiting somewhat impatiently for Buffy to remake their flesh.

With dry eyes, the Slayer turned her attention to the dwarfish spirits for the first time. They happily greeted her and welcomed her home. She apologized repeatedly for her delay. Luthor offered his chair to Buffy and he watched as she reformed the bodies of their slain friends. When the last dwarf was re-embodied, the Slayer declared that a celebratory feast was in order.

The newly embodied dwarves were anxious to start the preparations, they were eager to begin their labors. After they had gone, Luthor demanded to know about Folkvang and the Maiar who referred to themselves as ‘her’ people. Buffy then told him all about Irmo and the enchanted land that was given to her. She also revealed that she gets to choose half of the mortal warriors that are slain in battle, too. Not surprisingly, he wanted to hear her tale even though it took several hours to tell. She told him about the making of the gloves and how she was unable to return because her powers were drained and what she had to do in order to get them back. Luthor was mystified by the fact that she had two children with Marto, for he had known him well, at one time.

Buffy had learned that she had been gone for nearly twelve and a half years, meaning that she was now fifty-two years old! She didn’t celebrate one birthday while in Folkvang. In the big scheme of things, age and birthdays seemed to matter less and less with the Slayer. It had become irrelevant. Although now the elves could no longer refer to her as a child, maybe child-like, but by their standards, she was an adult.

On the way to the feast, Luthor pointed out the many improvements and additions that had been made to the fortress. He seemed to sparkle with every step. Not from any mystical thing, but from all the gold and jewels that adorned his body. Buffy had given him nearly every piece of jewelry that she had worn, making Luthor look kingly indeed! The Slayer doled out many gifts from her chests to her loyal followers. Everyone received his fair share.

During the feast, she announced that there were more dwarves on the way. Before she had departed Folkvang, Buffy chanced sitting upon her sapphire throne once more. One of the visions showed a mass exodus of dwarves fleeing Orocarni with many females among them. The Vala saw this as an opportunity to reward her men with something more precious than mere trinkets - the gift of love.

Later that evening, Luthor and Buffy went for a walk within the fortress and ended up in ‘The Pit’ chamber. As they stood on the bridge, he said, “We’ve chosen the name ‘Deeper Well’ for this place, that is, if you approve,” he mentioned as they both peered over the iron railing.

“Deeper Well, huh?” she questioned. “I like it. Sounds better than ‘The Pit.’” She took a sip of her wine before adding, “We’ve still got to put our first evil resident to rest. Have you guys prepared a sarcophagus yet?”

“Um, I didn’t realize that you had successfully imprisoned a fey,” he said hesitantly. After a moment, a smile came to his face, “Whom did you capture?” he queried.

“Authon,” she replied.

It was apparent to Buffy, that no, they had not prepared said sarcophagus. That meant that she had to stay here until it was completed. There was no way on Eru’s green earth that she was going to miss the first ‘burial,’ for it came at too great a price. It took four months to finish the mystical tomb. Buffy had imbued it with great magic’s to prevent him from escaping. She then drew out Authon’s powers and locked them into three rubies that represented the fire of his spirit, and set them into the hollows of his tomb. His essence, which remained in the Orb, was then thrust into the iris (an opening at the top of the coffin). The iris sealed itself around the Orb and Buffy commanded his fey to release itself from the mystical stone thus trapping him in the sarcophagus. The Orb disintegrated once his spirit had left it and the iris sealed itself shut. The casket was then thrust into the wall of the ‘Well.’ Authon would remain imprisoned there until the breaking of the world.



Despite Buffy’s longing to return to Ossir, she still had one more bit of business to contend with before she could leave. Now was the appointed time for her to intercept the enclave of dwarves that had left Orocarni. With the aid of her mystical chariot, the Slayer took to the air in order to find them. She had decided that the only way she’d be able to convince them to come with her was by displaying some of her powers. Not in a threatening manner, but in a way to show that she was able to deliver unto them gifts unimaginable.

When Buffy saw the dwarves from the sky, she counted nearly twenty four hundred of them. She could perceive from afar that not all would be welcomed to the Well for a dark shadow lay on some of these travelers. The golden chariot descended from the sky and the dwarves were both alarmed and in awe by the sight. When she landed, the dwarves charged the Slayer with their battle-axes. Buffy did not hide her mirth as she used her magic’s to easily disarm them. They had nowhere to run.

“Fear not, my dear dwarves,” she said. “I have come in peace, no harm will I cause you.”

It is not recorded in any of the histories what exactly the Vala of Love said to convince many of those Naugrim to accompany her. However, it is common knowledge that she had refused to allow some of them to come even though they were more than willing to. Nearly all of the females were convinced to follow her. In the end, she personally chose eight hundred dwarves to go back with her to the Well. All those that followed Buffy were given the gift of immortality. In return, they would assist the others in their endeavors.



Buffy departed the Deeper Well after spending one year there. She took both her falcon coat and her magical necklace, Brisingamen. She made one pit stop along the way, to visit Durin in Khazâd-Dum. While there, she placed a standing order for as many Orbs as the Dwarf Lord could produce. She left him ample down payment for his labors.

Buffy materialized on the outskirts of the city in the trees of Ossir. She didn’t want to have to explain about the lions and chariot, so she did a spell changing them to stone after removing all her goods from the cart. Holding the heavy chests, the Slayer disappeared in a blinding light only to re-materialize in her own bedchamber. It wasn’t a second later when she discovered that she was not alone.

“Holy shit!” exclaimed Orchal, using one of Buffy’s favorite expressions.

“Oh my Eru!” shouted Nestor.

“Bella?” questioned a shocked Úrion.

Buffy placed the trunks on the ground as she turned around and noticed her three friends sitting in her bedroom. Their jaws hung open; the blood had drained from their stunned faces.

“I guess I’ve got some explaining to do, huh?” she remarked, slighted taken aback by their presence.

The Slayer had no other choice but to reveal to the three elves her ‘true’ nature. After pouring herself and her friends a good stiff drink, Buffy revealed all that she had kept secret from them over the years. From Morgoth’s enthrallment to the Deeper Well to Folkvang. She even spoke of her children, which was flabbergasting to all present. It was quite a bit to take in.

With her arms folded across her chest, she nervously asked, “So, do you guys hate me? I know I should’ve told you sooner, but… I really don’t want anyone to know who I am. Hell, I really don’t know who I am.” She let out a heavy sigh. “I’ve gotta say though, that’s a real load off my chest.” She looked nervously from one baffled face to the next. “Say something!” she cried out.

“Your secret’s safe with me,” said Úrion, at last. “I care not what you are. What matters is how you treat other people… including me, and I cannot fault you with keeping those… matters private. I only rejoice that you’ve made it home safe and sound.” His face became hardened, “Morgoth shall pay for those atrocities that he committed against you.”

“Here, here,” chimed in a drunken Orchal. “I must say Bella; I’m completely dumbfounded by your tale. I think that it needs to sink in before I can comment further.” For some reason, her tale had the greatest effect on Orchal although she didn’t know why. He ended up shit faced before she finished her story. Buffy’s eyes turned to Nestor.

“I’m in agreement with Úrion on this one, Bella. I must say that your revelation does bring to light many things that I have not wholly understood before; mysterious disappearances, great knowledge of warfare and such.” He rose to his feet. “You are indeed a Vala worthy of praise and worship… ”

“No, no, no!” the Slayer countered. “I’m not for all that adulation crap.” She paused for a moment, thinking that maybe she was being a bit hasty when she rebuffed Nestor’s words. “Okay, well, maybe a little,” she continued. “But I don’t expect you guys to worship me or anything like that. I just want what we had before.”

“Ulmo,” blurted out Orchal as he got unsteadily to his feet.

“What?” queried the Slayer, who quickly dashed to Orchal’s side before he fell. “What are you talking about?” she asked, placing him back in his seat. She turned to the others. “What’s he talking about?”

Nestor glanced at Úrion before answering. “Ulmo paid Orchal a visit whilst you were away.”

“So did Mablung,” said Úrion. “Well, I actually spoke with him, but he came to Ossir while you were gone.”

Buffy stood over a passed out Orchal, utterly and completely shocked by what her friends had said. Ulmo came to Orchal! thought the Slayer. Why? Why didn’t he come to me when I was desperate to talk with him? The fact remains, Buffy was quite jealous to learn that Ulmo had visited Orchal, not her. And Mablung? That was beyond weird.

“What did they have to say?” asked the Slayer as she sat on the bed.

“I’ll have to start from the beginning,” began Nestor. “For this tale really starts the year after you left.” He told her about the dwarves returning the following spring, bringing one thousand of their kinfolk with them. Apparently, the Naugrim were so intrigued by what their kin had told them regarding the Slayer and her machines that they had to see for themselves. When they discovered that she was not there, they volunteered to stay and aid in the building of the engines.

It was not long afterwards, that Ulmo appeared before Orchal, instructing him to build a fortress worthy of the Slayer with the assistance of the dwarves. For ten years, they labored on that magnificent stone palace located on Tol Galen (Green Island), in the midst of the River Adurant in the southernmost region of Ossir. Buffy had never been that far south and knew nothing of that island. She found it rather odd that Ulmo had told them to build her fortress so far south. It didn’t make any sense to her at all, considering the threat of attack would come from the north.

When Nestor finished his tale, Úrion then told Buffy about Mablung’s visit. There was not much to tell other than that he was concerned about her well-being and wanted to see for himself that she was alright. He remained in Ossir for several months, but left some years ago. She found that strange, but not too surprising.

But the Slayer’s mind was more focused on the work that had been done while she was gone.

“Tomorrow I want to see all that’s been done in my absence,” she announced. She glanced at Orchal, who was snoring softly in the chair. “Help me get him to bed,” requested the Slayer as she and Nestor grabbed the drunken elf. Nestor went towards the door. “No,” Buffy said. “He can sleep in my bed.” Nestor looked at her, eyebrows raised, for a moment before complying.

Nighttime had already arrived and the bells sounded indicating that it was dinnertime. Buffy hadn’t realized how hungry she was until that moment. Leaving Orchal sound asleep, the others descended the stairway, heading towards the feasting hall. The green elves looked at the Slayer with reverence. None were aware that she had returned and were startled by her sudden appearance after so many years. Despite their initial shock, the green elves welcomed her home and they all celebrated into the wee hours of the morning.

Early the following morning, Buffy brought her lions back to life again. They were not pleased by what she had done to them and quickly fled into the woods. She cursed under her breath as she gave chase, leaving her friends to deal with bringing her chariot back home. Buffy then stopped. There was no point in her chasing after the lions when they could easily fly or disappear before she caught them. Instead, she wanted to see how many machines had been completed while she was gone.

When Buffy entered their camp, she was greeted by numerous dwarf Lords from both Belegost and Nogrod. The mighty Lords had waited many years just to set eyes upon the mysterious Lady whose predisposition for creating weapons of war rivaled their own. And let me tell you that the Slayer was not disappointed by what she had seen. The dwarves had completed their task a few years before, having built the five hundred siege engines that Buffy had authorized before she had vanished. There was rumor amongst the Naugrim that they would’ve built more, but the green elves were distressed by the great felling of trees and refused to let them continue. While Buffy was eager to have these things built, she was totally in agreement with the elves. She’d see to it personally that the forest was replanted.

Half the dwarves had remained beneath the city in the northern territory while the other half were removed to Tol Galen. That was Buffy’s next destination. She had to admit that she was anxious to see what kind of place that the elves and dwarves had built for her. Ten elves from her Household and two dwarves accompanied her on the boat. One was a hung over Orchal, whom the Slayer teased endlessly throughout the trip.

They leisurely journeyed by river for three weeks before reaching the port at Tol Galen. The palace was a mini replica of Sussrúmnir, except for being constructed out of blue stone instead of white. Perched atop the five hundred foot tall tower flew the banner of Buffy: a blue cross on a white background.

The elves and dwarves were quite proud of their accomplishment and they were very pleased by Buffy’s reaction. Tol Galen was in many ways like Folkvang. The fortress could only be reached by boat and there were many groves of trees that were not native to Beleriand. And the power that radiated from the island nearly bowled her over. It was fantastic. Even Kit and Kat ended up finding their way there.

Buffy spent much time exploring this island. She assumed it would be small since it was located in the middle of the Adurant River, but it was bigger than she imagined. Most of her exploration was done via astral projection for it was the quickest means for her to get the lay of the land. The island was twenty miles long by five miles wide and there were over one thousand elves that dwelt there. Not all of them lived in her Halls, as there were numerous houses throughout the isle.

For the next two years, Buffy spent much of her time on Tol Galen. She named her Halls Lindecoa, which translates to ‘House of Song’ in Quenya, for she had one of her minstrels singing at all times just like at Sussrúmnir. And she taught them a song that she considered her mantra, although she tweaked it a bit:

Time after time
I sit and I wait for your call
I know I’m a fool
But what can I say
Whatever the price, I’ll pay
For you, Madame Blue

Once, long ago
A word from your lips and the world turned around
But somehow you’ve changed,
You’re so far away,
I long for the past and dream of the day
With you, Madame Blue

Sweet Madame Blue
Gaze in your looking glass
You’re not a child anymore
Sweet Madame Blue
The future is all but past
Dressed in your jewels
You made your own rules
You conquered the world and more
… Heaven’s door

Luinil, Luinil…
Luinil, Luinil…
Luinil, Luinil…
Luinil, Luinil…

Red, white and blue
Gaze in your looking glass
You’re not a child anymore

Red, white and blue
The future is all but past
So lift up your heart
And make a new start
And lead us away from here. *



No matter where Buffy went in Ossiriand, she would hear the elves singing that song to her. Úrion said that it ‘fit’ her perfectly, and quite honestly, she agreed.

It was during the winter of Buffy’s thirty-first year in Middle-earth that she received a most unexpected visitor: Finrod. The doves delivered the message to her while she was in Lindecoa. Instead of Finrod coming to Tol Galen, Buffy and her closest confidents returned to the city in the trees.

“Welcome to Ossiriand, Finrod,” greeted Buffy when he entered her chamber. “Sorry about the wait, but we were a good two hundred and ninety miles south of the city.”

“I was in good company,” replied the golden haired Noldo with a smile. “I’ve enjoyed listening to the melodious voices of the elves of Lindon… ”

“Lindon?” questioned the Slayer.

“Oh,” he answered. “That’s what I call this city of yours. The green elves have such sweet voices.”

Buffy sat back in her chair. “I like it,” she said. “What do you guys think?” she asked as she turned to the green elves in the chamber. “Lindon. I like the sound of it.”

“It sounds very much like your Halls on Tol Galen,” replied Orchal.

“I say we name the city in the trees Lindon,” declared Buffy. The green elves agreed. Once that was settled, she turned her attention back to Finrod. “So what brings you here, son of Finarfin?” she queried.

“I’ve been sent by Fingolfin, King of the Noldor, with an invitation,” he said as he rose from his seat and handed her a sealed envelope.

Buffy broke the seal and pulled the parchment out. It was written in Quenya. She stared blankly at the runes. “I’ve gotta tell you Finrod, I may understand and speak the High Tongue of the West, but I’m afraid I don’t know how to read it.”

“Forgive me,” he replied. “The invitation is for Mereth Aderthad, the feast of reuniting that is to be held this spring at Eithel Ivrin. There will be plenty of food, games and such. All the mighty Lords of the Noldor will be in attendance and the King deemed that this would be a most excellent opportunity to renew old friendships and make new ones.”

Buffy smiled. “A party? That’s all I need to hear,” she said with a laugh. “We most graciously accept Fingolfin’s invite.” The Slayer saw this ‘party’ as a perfect opportunity to sell her machines. There was no way she was going to miss it.


* lyrics by Dennis DeYoung