Full Circle

CHAPTER FIVE: INTO THE WOODS



If it wasn’t for the moon, Buffy wouldn’t have been able to proceed on with her hike. The ‘road’ that the dwarves had told her about was more like a trail than anything else. It wasn’t like the stone one that they had just traveled on. Once into the woods, the moonlight was blocked out by the towering trees that encompassed her. But the path was smooth and free of debris, so she continued her march. After what seemed like several hours, she decided to stop for the night. She was hungry and tired. She wished she still had some of the yrch draught. That would have rejuvenated her enough to continue on. She sat with her back against a tree and ate the ‘salted pork’ and ‘dried fruit’ that the dwarves had given her. It wasn’t really her thing, but it was better than nothing. Buffy was very capable of hunting for ‘fresh’ food, but she had no way to make a fire. So she was grateful that she had something to put in her belly. The nightingales she now heard and their song soon lulled her to sleep.

Buffy was just coming out of her slumber when she heard voices. Thinking that the yrch had come back seeking vengeance, she immediately jumped to her feet. She began to kick and pummel at anyone in her vicinity. In the in the midst of confusion, Buffy realized these were not yrch, but something totally different. She unfortunately didn’t notice in time as she kicked one in the stomach, who then flew about fifteen feet before slamming into a tree. “Halt!” She soon heard. Several beings surrounded her and had the largest bows she had ever seen in her life. All had their weapons armed and pointed directly at the Slayer. These were no little people either. They were very tall. Well over six feet. These had to be the elves that the dwarves had told her about. The dwarves could have at least informed her that they were…what’s the word…gorgeous!

“Sorry,” she had said as she held her hands up. “I thought you were the yrch coming back for another round.” Several of the people got back to their feet (the unfortunate ones that got a taste of Buffy’s slayer strength). They appeared to be breathless and in pain. Buffy continued with her apologies.

The tallest one came forward (we’re talking about six foot six inches!), he wore a grim expression. “You would be the maiden that the Naugrim spoke of?” he inquired as he rubbed the back of his head. This was the guy that Buffy sent flying into the tree. The Slayer merely nodded her head. “How is it that you possess such strength yet you are so small?” He questioned.

“I’m the Slayer,” Buffy stated proudly. Their expressions were blank and Buffy continued, “In every generation there is a Chosen One. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer.” Still there was no acknowledgment. “Well that’s me. I kick demon butt.”

“I would not have believed it had I not been on the receiving end,” said the tall dark haired elf. “I have never seen such strength from one so small.”

“You don’t say?” she shot back sarcastically. “Never heard that one before.”

He smiled, recognizing her sarcasm. “I am Beleg, the chief of the march wardens of Eglador.” With that said, the other people lowered their weapons. They were all looking her over. “You are not from these parts, are you?” he asked.

“Whatever gave you that idea?” Buffy asked.

“Your garments are strange to us,” added another dark haired elf.

“Well, it’s actually very in vogue...back home any way.” She looked down at her dirty blood splattered pants. “Normally, I look much better than this. And smell better too,” she added as she caught a whiff of her own body odor. “I suppose you guys don’t have any facilities for bathing around here, do you?” She glanced around and saw nothing but woods. “A hot bath would be nice.”

The elves laughed. “Indeed you do smell like you have been in the wild for several days. How long have you been here…in these lands?” Beleg inquired.

“Well,” began the Slayer who was trying to recount how many days she had actually been here. “I guess it’s been three days. Seems longer though. Things are different here than in my world.” She looked at the elves closely.

“And where did you come from? The Naugrim say that you passed through Nan Dungortheb, is that true?” he inquired again.

“You mean the ‘Valley of Dreadful Death’? Yeah.” She sighed. “I was there. Got attacked by these monstrous spiders. It wasn’t pretty either. There’s fewer of them then before, but I take it they can breed like hell.”

The elves seemed impressed by that revelation. They asked her to tell her story. How she came to be here. How she survived the pass of Nan Dungortheb. How she battled the yrch. It had not yet dawned on Buffy that she would soon recount this story over and over again. They sat down on the ground as Buffy retold her story from the beginning once again. The elves were astonished by her tale. Beleg then said, “I could sense a great power about you the moment I laid eyes on you. You are no ordinary maiden that much I can tell. Perhaps our Lord will allow you to come to his halls and the Lady may revel more to us as yet.”

“The Lord?” Buffy inquired. “That would be Thingol, right?”

“Yes,” he began. “He is high Lord over all of Beleriand. He is both fair and wise. His wife is Melian, the Maia.” It was now Buffy who wore a blank look on her face. Beleg noticed this and continued, “She is one of the Powers who now dwell in the west.”

“One of the Powers?!” Buffy said with a tinge of excitement in her voice. “I’d really like to meet her. Maybe she could tell me why the hell I’m here.”

“Perhaps,” replied Beleg as he got to his feet. The others did the same including Buffy. “I have sent a messenger to alert the King of your arrival. Without his leave, you cannot go further into his realm.” Buffy was slightly disappointed. “But,” he began again. “I will take you to our encampment.” He picked up her duffel bag of weapons. “I shall carry these for you. We will see what we can do in order to get you…refreshed.”

“Thanks,” replied the Slayer. Buffy and Beleg continued down the same trail road that she had been on the previous day. Beleg talked about Middle-earth and the evil creatures that lurked about. Wolves, yrch, and yes, even vampires. Buffy concluded that she would definitely be an asset here. The elves didn’t even have a clue on how to kill a vamp. Buffy explained to him the various methods of killing them. She now wished that she had brought Mr. Pointy after all.

It did not take them long to reach the ‘encampment’. It consisted of twenty five wooden cottages nestled among the mammoth beech trees. There were some patches of grass here and there where the sunlight kissed the earth. Beyond the cottages there was a vast open space in which a garden was planted. Each cottage was landscaped with many different flowers. Some Buffy did not recognize. The air was fragrant and the birds chirped happily in the tree limbs above them.

“Here we are,” Beleg said as they reached the first cottage. “Welcome to my humble abode.” He opened the door and they went inside. The interior consisted of one large sparsely furnished room. There was what we would call, a living area, dining area and kitchen (complete with stove). There of course was no refrigerator. This main living area was probably around one thousand square feet, give or take. At the back of this space there was another door. This was Beleg’s private ‘sleeping chamber’. Buffy immediately noticed that there was no bathroom. As she now had to pee something fierce, this was a matter of utmost importance to her. She had peed outside numerous times (even before her arrival in this strange world), but now that there were quite a few people milling about, she was quite hesitant to drop her drawers in front of all of them. She expressed her concern to Beleg who let out a hardy laugh. “We can remedy that, dear maiden,” he said as he wiped the tears from his eyes. Buffy was finding it difficult to even stay still. We’ve all been in that situation before. He opened a cupboard and removed a sponge looking thing that had a wooden stick in the middle of it. He explained to Buffy that this is what they used to ‘clean’ themselves after going to the…bathroom. He also gave her a wooden bucket filled with water. He led her back outside to a small wooden structure. This was their lavatory. To Buffy, it was an outhouse. She cringed to herself but had to go so bad she didn’t care.

Buffy realized that this whole experience was like going back in time. This was how the first people, even in her world, lived long ago. She soon disposed of her bucket water and made her way back into the cottage. A large tub had been placed in Beleg’s sleeping chamber and he had a couple of other elves busy filling it with hot water. Buffy was so excited at the prospect of being able to wash all the grime out of her hair. “I have sent for Lindír’s wife,” he said. “She should have some clean garments for you to wear. She has two small daughters that are about your size. I will also see if she can mend and clean your clothing.” Buffy was very grateful. Hygiene was something of great importance to her. And it was something that she had neglected for too many days (not by choice).

Beleg seemed to understand these things about the Slayer. He also produced the stuff required for ‘washing’ your teeth. This consisted of some type of abrasive cloth on a small stick. The elves concocted a type of ‘paste’ that was reminiscent to baking soda and water. He showed her how to use this device correctly. It wasn’t a toothbrush, but it basically served the same purpose. After washing her teeth, he handed her a small glass of clear liquid. It smelled like mint. In fact, it was the oils extracted from the leaves mixed with water. Buffy gargled the fluid and instantly her mouth felt refreshed.

Ten minutes later the tub was full. Beleg went out into the main living area and Buffy undressed, tossing her nasty clothes onto the floor. The water was too hot for her, so she smelled the various bottles that were set on a table beside it. She decided on one that smelled like lilac. After a few more minutes, Buffy was able to submerge herself into the clear steamy water. Another sponge (she sure hoped it was a different one!) was laid out for her use. She began scrubbing away, when the door flew open. In walked a tall woman dressed in a long light yellow dress. Her hair was silver and was braided down her back. Her hair was nearly as long as Crystal Gayle’s. She held a bundle of clothes in her arms and laid them on the bed. “You must be…Buffy,” she said not knowing whether she was pronouncing her name correctly.

“That’s me,” responded Buffy and she sank a little deeper into the water. She wasn’t use to having strangers walking in on her while naked.

“My name is Gweneth. I am Lindír’s wife. Beleg called upon me to assist you…” She pulled up a stool and immediately began rummaging through the various bottles on the table.

“Really, I don’t need any help,” interrupted the Slayer. “I’ve been bathing myself for a long time now.” Buffy never ever had anyone offer to bathe her before. That was insane!

“Now, now,” she began again as she poured out a floral scented liquid in her hands and began washing the Slayers hair. “No need to be modest. We are both women, after all.” Despite Buffy’s protests, she continued as though she didn’t hear her. “Beleg says that you are a mighty warrior that has journeyed a long way,” she prattled on. “He says that you killed many of the yrch and even made it through Nan Dungortheb.”

“Uh-huh,” was all Buffy could get out. She hated to admit it, but Gweneth’s technique was quite relaxing. It was like getting a massage.

“Well, it is good to see that a woman is capable of surviving the same trials as a man,” she quickly began again.

“I take it that you live in a very patriarchal society,” interjected Buffy. Buffy hated the fact that Gweneth agreed with that statement. “Well, where I come from, women are as powerful as men. We don’t answer to anyone but ourselves. We go to war. We can die for what we believe in, even if it’s foolish.”

Gweneth wholeheartedly agreed with her. “I’m not saying that I would willingly go to war. If our homes were being ravaged by the enemy, I would pick up the sword and stand beside Lindír and fight. It saddens me that the peace that we’ve enjoyed for so long is starting to diminish. We cannot go anywhere outside Eglador without an escort nowadays.” She picked up a bowl and filled it with water. “I’m going to rinse now, dear,” she prattled on as she poured the water over Buffy’s head. “There were times when one could wander ever so far and have nothing to fear.” She continued pouring water over Buffy’s head. “Walking and singing in bliss under the star speckled sky,” she added wistfully. “Tell me, is there peace in the lands where you dwell?”

Buffy chuckled. She didn’t really know how to answer that. “That’s a hard question to answer. For the most part, it’s somewhat safe. There’s a saying, ‘ignorance is bliss,’ and that’s how most of the people are, ignorant. I, on the other hand, I know what lurks in the darkness. I’ve seen it. I’ve fought it. And I suppose I’ll continue to until the day I die. That’s what I do. Some times I wish I could be like the ignorant ones and live in a world of bliss.”

With Buffy’s hair now rinsed, Gweneth grabbed the sponge and began to wash her back. “From these scars on your body, I take it you have fought in many battles.”

Buffy leaned forward a little to allow Gweneth to continue her scrubbing. “Unfortunately. That’s what I do.” When Gweneth made her way in front of Buffy, Buffy put a stop to her cleaning. “No offense,” Buffy started. “I appreciate your help and all, but I can finish myself.”

Gweneth looked slightly affronted, but only for a moment. “As you wish.” She got up and began to lay out the various dresses. She also carried a sack that had several pairs of sandals in them. She continued her ramblings as Buffy finished her bath. Gweneth was very nice, but way too talkative for Buffy. She was hoping for a ‘Calgon’ moment, but noticed it wasn’t going to happen today. So she got up and dried herself off and went to examine the various gowns that Gweneth had brought. This whole time, Gweneth continued her incessant talking. Buffy quickly settled on a silky lavender gown. It seemed to fit okay. It was perfect for the season any way and the sandals kept her feet a lot cooler than her boots. After combing out her hair (Buffy so wished she had a blow dryer), she surveyed herself in the mirror. She looked much better except for those damn cuts on her face. They were starting to itch and she knew they were going to leave scars. Gweneth handed her a small circular box which contained her “miracle” salve. It was special concoction devised by the green elves of Ossiriand. Whatever the hell that meant. At this point, Buffy was desperate. She really didn’t want to end up looking like Scarface. Most of her old battle wounds were concealed by her clothing. She more than happily applied the ointment to her wounds.

After Gweneth left, Buffy was able to relax again. No more ramblings! She joined Beleg in the main room and took a chair at the table. “I must say, you look more lady-like now,” he said as his eyes assessed her appearance.

“Thanks Beleg. You don’t know how good it feels to be clean after so many days of fighting and wandering.”

“Ahh,” he began as he offered her an apple. “Indeed I do. I have gone off hunting for long periods of time. I have been in similar situations.” He took a bite of apple. “At least you feel refreshed after much toiling.”

Buffy spent the rest of the day with Beleg. They talked a lot. She told him about Sunnydale and London. Rome and Paris. And of course Cleveland. He just could not fathom that Slayers were called at such a young age. In the elvish world, one is still considered a child until they’re fifty years old. Buffy explained to him that most mortals didn’t live past their eighties. Very few made it past one hundred. He also found that hard to believe.

Beleg was quite the gentleman and gave up his bed to Buffy. He slept in the living room on what Buffy would call a chaise lounge. After a few days sleeping on the hard ground, it was heaven to actually sleep on a bed with pillows and quilts. Maybe things weren’t going to be so bad after all.

The following morning Buffy awoke to birds singing on the window sill of the bed chamber. She lay there watching the two red birds (she thinks they were cardinals) sing away. Never before had she seen anything like that. They were only a couple of feet away and they didn’t seem frightened by her presence at all. She could hear footsteps in the adjoining room and knew that she needed to get up and face the day.

She dressed and was still combing her hair when she went into the other room. There was another elf there with Beleg. This one was as tall as Beleg but had long silver hair. He was examining her scythe very closely. Buffy wasn’t too keen on having others handling her weapons, especially that one. “Good morning, Buffy,” greeted Beleg as the other elf looked up. “I hope your rest was pleasant.”

“Yeah,” she replied. She gave the once over on the other elf and then said, “Who are you?” He was definitely not one of the elves she had met yesterday.

He put her weapon down on the table and took a couple of steps forward. “I am Mablung; I am chief captain of Thingol’s.” He bowed slightly. “Thingol has ordered me to bring you to Menegroth.” Buffy looked intensely at this new elf.

Beleg took that as some type of apprehensiveness on Buffy’s part. “He is a good man, Buffy.” He said to her. “He is very trustworthy and of decent moral character.”

Buffy laughed at that. “If you say so Beleg. Well, it’s nice to meet you Mablung.” Buffy tossed the comb onto the table. “I see you’ve been admiring my weapons.” They were all laid out on the table.

“Yes I have.” He picked up the scythe again. “This one especially. I can feel its power. Beautiful. Just beautiful.” His glance went from her weapon to her. She felt herself flush, though she didn’t know why.

“I’ve killed a lot of big nasties with it. It was made for me, ya’know.” For some reason Buffy avoided his glance and poured herself a glass of water instead.

“Who wrought this weapon? Or is that being too bold?” He inquired. Once again, Buffy felt her face flush. Damn it, she told herself. What the hell’s wrong with you?

“Uh, can’t really tell you that. I found it. It was made for the Slayer long ago.” She took the weapon from his hand. “It was encased in stone and only the true heir could pull it out.”

“And that was you I take it,” he stated with a slight grin on his face.

“Yep. Little ol’ me. There was a lady there…where I found it. Said she was some guardian or something. She said she had been there a long time waiting for the Slayer to retrieve it.” Buffy twirled the weapon in her hand.

“Did she create it?” He inquired again.

“I don’t know. She was killed before she could give me any more information.” A shocked expression was on both Mablung and Beleg’s faces. “Not by me!” She exclaimed off their looks. “She was killed by this preacher man called Caleb. An emissary of The First. Bauglir.”

Mablung looked keenly at her. This time, she did not look away. “You speak the truth. I see it in your eyes. Melian believes that you were brought here on some special errand. To aid us in the upcoming wars, perhaps.”

“Upcoming wars?” asked Buffy. “Are you guys about to go to war or something?”

“The Queen has great foresight and sees many things. She has not spoken much to me about such matters except for the fact that war is close at hand. For that is a matter of great importance to me.” He stated straightforwardly.

“Then maybe that’s why I’m here. To help you guys in the war. I’m pretty good at fighting.” Buffy said enthusiastically.

“Perhaps,” he said with a smile. “You are very small. I find it hard to believe that you could inflict much pain,” he shot out sarcastically.

Buffy replied in like manner, “Ask Beleg about how much pain I can inflict. He got a little taste of it yesterday.”

Mablung laughed at that. “So he tells me.”

“Mablung, this maiden has the strength of ten men. I do not say that in jest. If you find that difficult to believe, I suggest that you take her on and let her show you what she is capable of doing. I, for one, do not want to be on the receiving end of one of her blows again.”

“Yeah, how ‘bout it Mablung?” asked the Slayer with a grin on her face. “I could use the work out!”

Mablung considered this for a moment. “Another time. We have need for haste. If we leave soon, we shall reach Menegroth by nightfall.”

“Oh, Buffy,” started Beleg. “Gweneth has washed and darned your garments. You will need to wear your breeches as you will be traveling by horse.”

“Horse?!” Buffy exclaimed. “I don’t know how to ride a horse. Can’t we walk or something?”

“It will take too long to travel on foot,” replied Mablung. “Change quickly and I will give you a quick lesson. We must reach Menegroth by nightfall.”

Buffy mumbled under her breath as she took her clothes and went into Beleg’s bedchamber. She was most anxious to meet one of the Powers in person. Not just the dream thing she had with the Lord of Waters. Buffy changed back into her clean khakis and the green tunic the dwarves gave her. She held the amulet in her hand. She had taken it off for the first time when she bathed, but immediately put it back on afterwards. She was debating about wearing it or stowing it in her pocket. She decided to wear it under the tunic along with her crucifix. She concluded that it was the power of the amulet that brought her here. And maybe, just maybe, it would whisk her away again at any moment. There was no point in taking any chances. If this thing activated itself, she wanted to be ready.

A few minutes later she was outside with Mablung. First thing she noticed, these horse were like…huge. At least sixteen hands. Second, there was no saddle and no reins. How the hell is she suppose to ride a horse without the proper equipment? And lastly, she DOES’NT know how to ride one of these dreadful beasts. Oh God, now she was sounding like Giles! “Uh, Mablung,” she started as she looked over at the horses. “How do you ride without a bridle or saddle?”

“Elves do not require those devices. Our horses know the way.” He said as he patted the white horse that he would be riding.

“Uh, Mablung, maybe you haven’t noticed, but I’m not an elf. I don’t think riding a rocking horse when I was a kid qualifies me as any type of rider.” He looked at her strangely. “Never mind.”

He cupped his hands and Buffy looked at him. “Just put your left foot here,” he indicated to his cupped hands. “And heave yourself up.”

Buffy looked at him and then the horse. “I think I can get on by myself, thank you very much.” Buffy leapt up onto her brown horse and gently patted his neck. “Good horsy.”

“Hold on to his mane,” Mablung instructed. “Like this.” Buffy watched him.

“You know, I’m not stupid. I just prefer traveling by car or train. Hell, I would even settle for mass transit at this point.” Looking around, Buffy knew that there was no bus depot around the corner. She would have to make due.

“Farewell, Buffy,” said Beleg. “I hope we meet again.” Buffy thanked him for his hospitality. And soon her horse took off at a slight trot as it followed Mablungs horse down the ‘road’. The road turned to the east and they traveled that way for quite some time. At times they would get the horses galloping which Buffy found incredibly painful. Riding bareback was similar to falling on the bar of a boys bicycle. Girls and riding bare back did not go together. She was getting sore. And in the worst possible place too!

They stayed this course, going slightly south again until they reached a river. “This is the river Esgalduin,” proclaimed Mablung. “Menegroth is located on the east bank of this river further south. Here we shall rest for a while and eat a bit before continuing.”

“I have to say Mablung, that’s the best idea I’ve heard from you yet.” Buffy jumped off her horse and landed in a heap on the ground. Her legs were like jelly and felt numb. She started rubbing her thighs trying to get the blood flowing again. “Damn bizarro world!” She mumbled under her breath.

“You will be fine,” laughed Mablung. “It takes some time before one gets use to riding. With more experience you will feel no pain.” He offered her his hand. “You should walk a little. That will get your blood circulating again.” Buffy took his hand and got to her feet once again. While he was rummaging through his satchel, Buffy walked around, rubbing her butt which ached horribly. Mablung glanced at her and laughed. “We still have a way to go. I hope you survive the journey.”

“Yeah, well. Riding bareback hurts more than my ass. You guys should look into saddles. I’m sure they’re more comfortable, especially for women!”

She strolled to the bluff overlooking the river Esgalduin. Its waters were rushing in a southwardly direction. They had come upon many elves as they traveled further into Eglador but here it was quiet except for the chirping of the birds and the sound of various insects. When the feeling returned to her lower extremities she sat down on a rock overlooking the river. It was actually a really pretty spot.

Mablung sat down next to Buffy. He brought what was left of her pork, fresh bread and butter (courtesy of Beleg) and a couple of apples. “Will you continue your tale whilst we eat?” Mablung asked as he chewed on some pork.
“Where was I?” Buffy asked as she buttered them some bread.

“You were at the point where the child called The Anointed One met you outside the grounds of your learning center,” he replied.

“Oh, yeah.” While traveling, Mablung had asked about some of her previous battles. She had already told him about Merrick and how he blew his head off in order to prevent Lothos from turning him into a vampire. That conversation led to her move to Sunnydale where the mouth of Hell was located. She was nearing the climax of her story about The Master when Mablung decided they should take a break for food and rest. She continued on with her tale as they ate. She told him about misinterpreting the Prophecy in the Pergamum Codex concerning her role with The Master. That she was the one who set him free. It was her blood that he needed in order to break out of his mystical ‘prison’. “See,” she said. “I still have the scar.” She pulled her hair back and showed him the fang marks on her neck.

“I see more than just two bite marks,” he said as he gently touched the damaged area.

“Yeah,” she said as she took a bite of apple. “I’ve been bite by vampires a total of three times. The other ones came later. After The Master.”

Mablung was amazed by her story. “Yet you died. How is it that you came back to life?” He moved his hand away and Buffy let her hair fall back over her scars.

“My friend Xander. He’s the one I told you about…”

“The one who possessed no special powers, but had a great love for you,” he interrupted. “Yes, I can see why he would be devoted to you.”

Buffy never really looked at it that way. “He resuscitated me.” Mablung looked confused. “The bite didn’t kill me. After The Master fed off me, I fell into a pool of water and drowned. Xander performed CPR and…here I am, alive and kicking.” He was still confused about CPR and Buffy explained to him how one can be revived if they drowned. But that it needed to be done within a matter of minutes or else…that was it. Death.

“And what happened once The Master was released from his prison?” He inquired, anxiously awaiting the conclusion of her tale.

“Well,” she started again as she chomped on her apple. “He opened the Hellmouth and all these tentacle demons started coming out. It was crazy. I tracked him down to the roof of the building. Fought him. And killed him.”

“I expect he was stunned to see you once again. Living and breathing that is.”

“Oh, yeah. The Prophecy said that he was gonna kill me. He had no idea that it was only for a couple of minutes. And it never said anything about him dying,” she added with a smile.

“I must say,” Mablung began. “I have never heard a better tale told. And to survive such an ordeal. Your father’s seed must be powerful.”
“My father?” questioned the Slayer with a slight frown. “He has nothing to do with me being a Slayer. I told you that Mablung. It’s a mystical thing. Slayers don’t run from bloodlines. They’re chosen by The Powers That Be.”

“Do I sense some resentment towards your father?” he asked solemnly.

“Maybe. A little.” She threw her apple core into the river below them. “I mean, I love him, but he did leave me and my mom.” She looked at him. “We’re not really close any more.”

“That is a cowardly thing to do. A man is responsible for taking care of his family until the day he dies…” He voiced in an offended tone.

“That’s not how it works,” Buffy interrupted. “In my world, if you’re not happy with your mate, you get a divorce and move on to the next one. It happens every day. Don’t elves believe in divorce?”

He furrowed his eyebrows. “We have no such thing. Elves mate for life. And since we are immortal, we take only one spouse. It is a queer thing to dispose of one whom you claim to love.”

“Maybe,” said Buffy as she wiped her hands on her pants and stretched out her legs. “So tell me Mablung. Is there are special someone in your life?” Buffy tried to change the conversation to something other than divorce. It seemed to strike a chord with Mablung.

He sat silent for a couple of moments looking at the river below. “Long ago. But she is lost,” he said in a low voice. “She was taken during the time when we elves dwelt beside Cuiviénen many ages ago. She had wandered far beneath the starlit sky, as was her wont, into the Wild Wood. Never to be seen again. We searched for a long while, but to no avail. She was lost. Lost to the darkness that lurked in those places.”

Buffy felt horrible for bringing up such a depressing topic. “I’m really sorry Mablung. I shouldn’t have…”

“What’s done is done.” He got to his feet. He held his hand out and Buffy took it. He pulled her to her feet. “Life goes on and I am content.” He forced a smile. “But now we should continue on with our journey.” He gathered up the ‘food cloths’ that were littered on the rocks and stowed them back in his bag. Mablungs attitude had become somber and Buffy tried her best to cheer him up. “Let me help you,” he offered his cupped hands, which this time Buffy used in order to get on her horse.

As they trotted along the shore of the river, Buffy attempted to cheer Mablung up by saying, “Did I tell you about the vampires attempt to resurrect The Master?” He seemed to like her other stories, so she thought this would help lighten the mood.

He looked at her with that ‘you’ve gotta be kidding’ expression on his face. “They tried to bring him back? How?” Buffy’s plan worked. Her new tale about The Master’s resurrection interested Mablung very much. As she told her story he would interrupt voicing opinions and asking questions. His mood greatly improved.