Chapter 11

Buffy stood in front of Willow and Dawn while Arwen finished buttoning up the back of her dress. "Wow," Dawn said. "You look amazing."
"She most certainly does." Arwen said. "Although, I must tell you, when I first laid eyes on the drawing of this dress... It was quite the shock. A beautiful gown, but one that is very obviously not of this world."

"The dresses all looked the same here." Buffy said. "I wanted my dress to stand out." She turned and looked in the mirror behind her. The dress was form-fitting and an off-white color. There were small cap sleeves that didn't hold the dress up, they were just for show, and the entire dress was intricately embroidered with tiny flowers, leaves, and light-blue vines. It went all the way to the floor in one smooth motion and lightly belled out from just above Buffy's knees. It had a medium-sized train to it that lightly dragged along the floor behind Buffy. Around her waist was a baby blue ribbon that tied in a beautifully done bow in the small of her back and the excess ribbon flowed all the way down to the bottom of the train. Buffy's hair was in loose curls that flowed to just above the bow on her back. Arwen had pulled the front half of Buffy's hair back, leaving long, but small tendrils in the front, and braided baby-blue ribbon into the front half, tying it together at the nape of her neck. Topping it all off was a long veil that came from Buffy's hair just where the front parts tied together. The veil flowed lightly down the back of Buffy's body and ended where the train ended. Buffy's makeup was completely minimal and she relied on the subtle glow of happiness to pull the whole effect off.

Willow wiped away a tear. "You look so beautiful."

There was a knock on the door, followed by, "The brother of the bride would like a peek."

"Come on in, Aragorn." Buffy called. The door opened and Aragorn, dressed in his king's finest, stepped in. His eyes swept the room until they came to rest on Buffy and he gasped. He couldn't say anything as the tears welled in his eyes. "You're all trying to make me cry, aren't you?"

"Le na bain. (You are beautiful.)" Aragorn said. "A picture of radiance and love."

"Le hannon. (Thank you.)" Buffy looked at herself in the mirror and an expression of sadness came over her face.

"Man? (What?)"

"Goheno nin. Nad dithen. (Forgive me. It's just a little thing.)"

"Ú-moe edaved! Sin ormeleth veren! (It is not necessary to forgive. This is a day of love.) What could possibly bring about that face?"

"Hîr naneth. (My mother.)"

"Ú-chenion. (I don't understand.)"

"I wish she was here to share this with me. I miss her."
"She is here." Arwen said, taking Buffy's hands. "She is always here, locked and cherished inside your heart. She watches over you every step of the way and keeps you safe from the perils of darkness."

"Besides," Aragorn said. "Your friends are here. Your family is here. All is well, sister. Ir dagnir (The Slayer) is about to marry the Elf of her dreams."

---

Angel stood outside the Great Hall and looked out over Gondor. This place was beautiful. He knew why Buffy loved it so much. Speaking of... "God, you look amazing." He said to her as she walked up to him.

"Well, I'm the bride. I'm supposed to." Buffy said.

"Why did you want to see me now? You have to get married."

Buffy smiled. "I want you to give me away."

"What? No, no, no, no..."

"Angel, listen to me." Buffy gently took his hands in hers and held his gaze. "I know what I'm asking. I want you to give me away because you’re my best friend. You know me better than anyone, even Legolas. We've been through so much together, experienced more than a lifetime's worth of love for each other... So, it should be you. An old love giving me to a new love. Besides, I'll always be your girl. I meant it when I said it."

"Buffy, I don't..."

"I do. Please Angel."

He stared at her for a long moment. In that moment, he felt everything they had ever felt together. He remembered touches and words shared years ago that he thought he had lost. And also in that moment, he knew that he was the only one who could give her away. "As long as you're sure about it."
"I've never been more sure of anything." Angel looked at her a moment and then turned as the doors opened to the Great Hall. Buffy let out a nervous breath and slipped her arm into his. "Did I mention that you look great in a tux?"
"You look better in a wedding dress."

Buffy smiled and Angel led her into the Great Hall where everyone was waiting. The place was filled to the brim with people. Angel had never seen so many people in one place. No wonder Buffy was nervous. He held her hand gently and gave it an encouraging squeeze as the band started to play and the guests rose to their feet. She had a long ways to walk, but at the end of the long aisle, standing in front of the throne, Legolas was waiting with Aragorn at his side. Their eyes locked and she felt the floor be replaced by clouds. It was the longest walk of her life.

The entire ceremony was a blur. Most of the ceremony was in Elvish, but their vows to each other were in English. Aragorn blessed the marriage and Thranduil crowned Buffy princess of Mirkwood. Finally, Buffy and Legolas shared their first kiss as husband and wife. Things didn’t slow down until they were halfway down the aisle under a shower of flower petals. They made it outside and the doors closed on the watching crowd.

Legolas picked her up into his arms and spun her around. “Nîn meleth, you are mine forever now. How does it feel to be my wife?”

“Pretty damn good. How does it feel to be my husband?”

“Better than anything I could ever have imagined or dreamt.” He wrapped a gentle hand around the back of her neck and pulled her into a passionate kiss.

---

Buffy and Legolas were driven through the streets on Gondor with their hands bound together to greet the people who hadn’t been able to attend before being taken back to the Great Hall where the reception would be held. The reception was just for family and friends. The city of Gondor would be holding their own feasts that night.

There was a large round table where everyone would be sitting. Buffy had wanted it that way because it felt more intimate. They could all talk and be seen by one another. She liked the unity of it all. After eating and the cutting of the cake, Willow was the first one to stand up to give a speech.

“Ok, since I’m the best friend and the maid of honor, I think it’s my duty to go first. And if it’s not, Aragorn, you’re just going to have to wait because I hate giving speeches. They make me nervous. And since I’m already up and my nerves are running away with me…. I might as well get this over with.” She turned to Buffy and Legolas. “Buffy, I really can’t believe this day…. This week actually happened. You never thought you’d see the day you’d be married. After everything you’d been through with Angel and Parker and Riley and Spike, you finally gave up on love. I’m happy you’ve found the guy to make you believe in love again. I have to admit, I was against the relationship at first because it took my best friend away from me. But in the end, I’ve only ever wanted what’s best for Buffy. And Legolas, that’s you. Take care of her, ok?” Willow had to grab up a napkin to blot at her streaming eyes.

Aragorn stood up and looked at Buffy and Legolas. “I remember when I first met Buffy. Galadriel brought her to the Fellowship to aide us in our long and dangerous quest. At first glance she seemed to be merely just a girl…. A very tiny girl. But my friend Legolas saw that she was not just a tiny girl, but a strong, resilient woman who was as beautiful as she was brave. Throughout the long months of travels and battles, I came to know Buffy as a friend and as a sister. I also watched as the love between her and Legolas grew and grew beyond measure. I watched that love become threatened by death and death was overcome. Then I watched that love stretch across worlds only to spring back and reunite them once again. My friends, it is very rare to find a love so strong and true. I wish you lifetimes of happiness and love and may that love keep you as strong as these walls and as constant to each other as the waves of the oceans are to the beaches. To Legolas and Buffy!” He raised his glass and everyone toasted the couple. The musicians started to play and everyone got up to dance and have fun.

Galadriel walked over to Buffy. “I’m very happy for you, young Slayer.”

Buffy smiled. “Tell me something. Did you see all of this happening when you summoned me to Middle Earth?”

Galadriel just smiled. “This is your destiny, Buffy. I had nothing to do with the path fate has made for you.” She leaned down and kissed Buffy’s cheek. “Congratulations, princess.”

Angel came over to Buffy as Galadriel moved away to talk to Legolas. “Hey.”

“Hey yourself.” Buffy said.

“How are you doing?”

“I’m a little tired, but it’s ok. I won’t be able to sleep tonight.”

Angel smiled. “I bet.”

Buffy slapped his arm. “Brute.”

Angel caught her hand. “I’m going to miss you, Buffy. I think it might be more than I can bear.”

Buffy smiled knowingly back. “Please don’t be sad. You can always come visit.”

“It’s not that….”

“I know it’s not. But you said it yourself. We both know we’ll never be able to be together again in this lifetime.” She moved a little closer to Angel and lowered her voice. “One day Angel, when you’ve finally moved on and become the man you’re searching for now…. Look for me. I’ll be out there somewhere…. Waiting. We’ll know each other and we’ll love each other then even more than we have in this lifetime.”

“And Legolas?”

Buffy looked back at her husband. “When I die, Legolas will die with me.”

“I don’t understand.”

“By marrying me, he’s given up his Elvin immortality for me and we’re bound together now. Just like when Aragorn dies, Arwen will die with him. It’s very romantic in a way.” She turned back to Angel. “And in a way, I get to have both the men I love. How many women can say that?”

Angel chuckled. “Not many.” He sighed. “Well, this is goodbye.”

“You’re leaving?”

He nodded. “I’m having Willow send me back tonight. As much as I love seeing you happy and as much as I’ve convinced you that this is the life you deserve, I’m still having trouble accepting that it’s someone else causing that happiness. I think it’ll be easier for us both.” He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. “This is your time, Buffy. Enjoy it.” Angel backed away from Buffy and dipped into a bow, kissing her knuckles. Before Buffy could say anything, he walked away and melted into the shadows.

“Is everything all right?” Legolas asked, suddenly beside her.

“Yeah.” Buffy turned to him and wrapped herself in his arms. “Everything’s perfect.”

Legolas moved in closer. “Buffy…. Would you like to go to bed?”

Buffy smiled seductively. “It is our wedding night. We should definitely enjoy it.”

“And so we shall. Aragorn.” Legolas and Aragorn exchanged a few words in Elvish.

Buffy caught a few of them and realized Legolas was asking Aragorn for the king’s blessing and permission to take their leave of the festivities. She knew that the whole wedding thing was traditional, but she hadn’t realized Legolas took that part so seriously. “Legolas, they’re not going to escort us to the bedroom and put us in bed, right?”

“Of course not, meleth.” He smiled. “Come on.” Legolas took her hand and escorted her out of the room, down the hall, and stopped at their door. He opened it and held Buffy back. When she started to question him, he swept her off her feet. “Dawn told me that in your world, it is traditional to carry the bride over the threshold of a door.”

Buffy giggled as he carried her through the doorway and into their room. The entire place was lit by hundreds of tiny candles. “It smells like vanilla in here.”

“A wedding gift from Willow. All of the candles are vanilla scented. A strange thing, but I knew it would make you happy.” Legolas gently laid her down on the bed and went to close the door. When he came back, he stripped off his belt and laid it on a chair. “And that’s what I want to do for you for the rest of our lives.” He moved towards her, covering her body with his. As he ran his fingers down the side of her face and neck, he said, “I want to make you happy every day of our lives.” Legolas closed the distance between them and kissed Buffy passionately.

THE END

A/N I don't really know much about the whole Elves giving up their humanity thing, so I made my own version up. Sorry the ending's so short, but this is the best I could come up with. The other way was more drawn out and boring. I hope you enjoyed the story. :)