Title: Moving On
Author: Wildecate
Email: Wildecate@hotmail.com
Rating: G - just fluff
Notes: First attempt at BtVS/LOTR crossover. Don't flame me.
Pairing: Willow/Legolas (of course!)
Credits: We all know who created the characters - songs by Avril Lavigne/Daniel Bedingfield
Dedication: For Lara

He watched from the top of the battlements but still she did not come. Had he missed her somehow in the crowds? One human girl would be easily lost among many. Surely he would be able to feel her presence.

"She is not Elven kind Legolas" Elrond's voice echoed in his mind "She will fade away like the tree she is named for while you are in the spring of your life. Would you condemn yourself as my daughter does?"

But still he watched. Perhaps she had not come. Perhaps she did not want to come. Humans were fickle, changeable especially their women. He longed for answer to the question that had dogged him throughout Moria, throughout Gondor, throughout the battles. Had she waited? His father was visiting but had spent scant time with his son. He had obviously heard from Elrond of Legolas' affection for the girl and called Legolas back to Mirkwood, not giving him any chance to debate the point. Legolas was his son, a prince, he had duties and responsibilities which outdid personal feelings and love. How could he know this was love? And with a human girl barely past her 17th season? Legolas remembered her voice above all, the green eyes and bright smile had remained strong in his memory but her voice haunted his dreams.

"And still you wait for her?" the scathing voice came from behind him. Legolas did not even move. "Where is your human now?"

"Her name is Willow. She will come."

"And hang off your every word as Aragorn does Arwen? It's pathetic. It's disgusting. You would give up your immortality for this girl?" the last word was spat and Legolas rounded on the speaker.

"She will come, brother. And when she does, you will marvel at the beauty of her and take back all the words you have spoken."

"I think not Legolas. You will return with us to Mirkwood and make preparations for the departure to Valinor."

"Not without her"

"Humans are not allowed"

"Stop calling her that as if she were a thing!" Legolas turned now to face his brother "I will not move from this city until I see her. I will not return to the Forest with you until I have seen her."

"The choice is not yours, brother" Tathor smiled at him "We have already made our goodbyes to the King and his future wife. We depart after the wedding. You will accompany us."

Legolas watched his brother stride off but was distracted by a trumpet call from the gate. Surely this would be her. He watched the line of horses parade past and then there she was. He paused for a moment and then ran down the stairs to the archway where her horse would pass through.

Willow couldn't wait to get out of the saddle and into a bath. It had been a long ride that day and she was glad that they had reached their destination. Aragorn had ridden out to meet them and she had half hoped that Legolas had come with him but there was no sign of him. She accepted the sisterly kiss from Aragorn with ill disguised impatience before he hugged her hard and told her Legolas was waiting for them in the city. She was glancing all around her but never noticed the elf pushing his way through the crowds, ducking under the barricades and catching her horse up.

"Willow?"

"You're here" the joy on her face told him all he needed to know and he swung himself up behind her. He wrapped an arm around her waist and took the reins with the other.

"I can't believe you're here" she said trying to hug him and settling for wrapping her arms around the arm that was round her waist.

"I can't believe you took so long" he laughed back.

"Hey! So not my fault! We had to keep stopping for the horses."

"You're here now. That's all that matters. I have missed you a'mael" he whispered in her ear "We are together now and we have much to discuss".

Neither of them noticed the watchers on the battlements talking quietly, watching them.

"We shall give them until after the wedding. And then he must return."

"He will not" Tathor watched as his brother rode into the castle proper "He will stay, he longs to stay"

"I will give him no choice but to return. He has his responsibilities and I will not have my son waste his life on a human."

Willow and Legolas spent the next few days caught upin each other so much so that even Legolas forgot what was hanging over them. They went riding together and picnicked under the stars.

"I miss Lothlorien. You would love it there Willow, so quiet and peaceful. So beautiful" Legolas rolled over on the blanket and gazed down at Willow who was staring up into the night sky.

"I miss Sunnydale. The strangest thing about being here is that the stars are different. No Plough, no Casseopeia, no Pleiades. Very bizarre."

"You haven't changed" he said, smiling.

Willow looked up into the grey eyes and smiled back sadly.

"You have. You're sadder. Harder."

"It comes with constant battle."

"While I stayed cooped up in Rivendell, you fought battles and risked death." Willow had hated this from the time she had seen the Fellowship leave the Last Homely House until she had seen Aragorn and knew Legolas was alive. It had driven her mad and only being out in the Forest with Arwen had soothed her mind if only due to the fact that she knew Arwen felt the same. She could not even begin to understand being immortal although it was something that reminded her of Angel.

"I am here now" he dropped a kiss on to her forehead.

"Yes you are" she smiled.

But over the following days after her arrival at the city he had become silent and withdrawn and when she questioned Aragorn about it he said simply that it was something that Legolas must tell her, it was not for him to interfere. She caught him watching her intently as if he was trying to memorise every part of her. She could tell that she was losing him but didn't know what to or how to stop it. Every time she came to ask him about it, the words stuck in her throat and she couldn't.

The wedding Arwen to Aragorn was one of the most beautiful days that Willow could remember. She clung to Legolas throughout the ceremony and stayed with him throughout the feast, scared of being caught up in the whirling crowds and losing him. The dancing was fast and intense and Willow, unable to keep up with the elves swung herself out of the dance and stood watching from the side as Legolas spun a pretty elf maid around before linking hands with another and moving away into the dance.

"He dances well, does he not?" the voice behind her startled her and she looked around. An elf who was easily the spitting image of older Legolas stood behind her.

"Tathor" he stated, bowing over her hand and brushing his lips, very correctly, half an inch over her skin.

"Brother?" she asked and he nodded "he didn't mention you"

"No" Tathor smiled "he wouldn't".

"Hey, if this is some sort of family thing I really don't want to get involved and you can sort it out between you". She gave a smile to Legolas who came past again and seeing Tathor, let go of his partner's hands who instantly found someone else to dance with, and came out of the dance to stand beside Willow.

"Tathor" he said coldly, formally in a tone that Willow had never heard him use before.

"Legolas, I was just speaking with Willow. Has she met Father yet?"

"Your Dad is here?" Willow was astonished.

"We've been here all the time." Tathor smiled "It was nice to meet you Willow, perhaps another time we may introduce you to our Father." He nodded to Legolas whose stony expression did not change.

"They've been here all along? Why haven't we met them before?" Legolas took her hand and pulled her outside.

"Are you ashamed of me?" she asked suddenly.

"No, a'mael, who could be ashamed of you?" he pulled her into a strong embrace and held her close. He dropped his head down to rest on hers.

"Legolas, what's wrong? Talk to me. I've known something is wrong for ages and I didn't know how to ask you and you wouldn't tell me. So tell me."

He looked up at her, agonising over his decision. If he had to make a choice, now was the time to make it. His eyes were troubled but he knew what he should do - it was just that he didn't want to do it.

"I can't…."

"You have to".

"I have to go away. Go home"

"Home?" Willow was confused but in his silence the truth hit her. "You have to go back with your father and brother don't you? Back to being a Prince. But there's no problem there because I could….. oh"

Willow wrapped her arms around herself defensively before saying out loud what she had suddenly worked out in her mind. "I can't, can I?"

The look on Legolas' face said it all and she turned away from him.

"Is it because I'm human?" she asked quietly "Or because I'm me?"

"He doesn't know you Willow"

"So it's because I'm human. He thinks you're throwing your life away on a mortal."

"Yes, no - I don't know" Legolas had dreaded this conversation from the moment it started and now things were coming out all wrong.

"You don't know? Haven't you asked him?" Willow stared at him "You haven't even told him have you? But Tathor knew so somehow he found out about it and he doesn't like it, so he's taking you back with him."

"Yes" Legolas answered dully.

"And you're going to let him?" Willow turned to face him. He was beautiful in the moonlight. Elves were beautiful creatures as a rule anyway but him? He beat them all hands down. Her gaze travelled over the delicate features of his face, his eyes were closed as if trying to shut the whole thing out and he was biting his lip, almost like a child she thought.

"You're going, aren't you?"

"I have no choice."

"You do" she almost shouted. "You do have a choice. You can stay here, we could go back to Rivendell or travel or something." The tears that had threatened for so long were now running down her cheeks furiously.

"Willow, you don't understand. I can't just leave my family" he turned and held her tightly "It's not as easy as that. I have responsibilities. I have a life in the Forest to return to."

"And I can't come with you" she pulled away from him, green eyes staring into grey.

"Humans are forbidden. We had enough trouble getting into Lothlorien. Mirkwood is pure elven."

"And then you're leaving for Valinor? And I definitely can't go there can I?" Willow's tears had dried up now and slow anger was taking its place, heating up within her.

"Willow, please, I cannot avoid my place as Prince any more than Aragorn could avoid being King or Buffy could avoid being a Slayer."

"Don't you dare bring her into this" Willow cried "I trusted you, I missed you so much and now we're together again and you're telling me that you're going, not coming back and I'm not going to see you again ever?"

"Will, please, its not like that at all"

"It is! It is like that. You're going to do what they think is the right thing. The right thing sucks." The tears came again and she succumbed to them, sobbing quietly.

"Sucks?" Legolas normally followed her language so well but was lost this time.

"Oh never mind" she sighed.

"Willow, I'll speak to my father. I don't want to lose you." He stroked her cheek and, lifting her palm, dropped kisses on it gently.

"I don't want to lose you either" she whispered back "but I think this is a battle we are not going to win" she moved away from him wiping her tears away. "I think that this is something that you need to think about very hard. You either stay here with me or you can go home with your father. I can't make this choice for you Legolas, its yours." She kissed her finger and placed it on his lips "You know I love you, and you know how you feel. But is it enough to make Arwen's choice?"

Willow turned from him and saw that Tathor was watching them. She gave Legolas a smile before walking past Tathor, head held high, determined not to let him beat them. Arwen was waiting for her inside and pulled her away into a dance. Willow followed Arwen and allowed herself to be caught up in the dance. She had not noticed Tathor follow her back into the hall and neither had Legolas who had turned away to gaze out across the city. So it came as a complete surprise to Willow as she followed Arwen through the dance and changed partners that she came face to face with Tathor.

"Willow"

"What do you want?"

"I had heard that humans were discourteous and now that has been confirmed." He twisted her deftly under his arm and she came out of the turn neatly, holding him as firmly as he held her.

"In my land its called getting to the point quickly. It doesn't matter what I say anyway, you hate me. I could be as flowery as the next girl, elf, and you still would hate me."

He inclined his head in agreement as they moved in the motions of the dance.

"This much is true." He smiled down at her and she suddenly thought of Angel, so evil as Angelus and yet the same face. Tathor resembled Legolas closely yet had none of the kindness, the gentleness that she had loved in him.

"You know he has no choice. The eighty years that you may live are a spark to the lifetime of an elf. You would not ask him to give up immortality for you."

"It's not all its cracked up to be so I've been told." Willow spun gracefully again under his arm and they began the last measure of the dance before the partner change.

"Listen very carefully to me Tathor as I only intend to say this once." Willow's face was set and serious "This is his choice, his decision. And if you force him to leave me, if you take him away without his free will you will be as bad as the evil he has just defeated." She stepped back and curtsied "So put that in your pipe and smoke it." She turned to face her next partner and sighed in relief. It was Aragorn.

"Talk to me"

"Nope" her face was set in a sociable smile but her eyes told him volumes.

"Willow!"

"Nope".

"Its Legolas isn't it?"

"That obvious?"

"You are easy to read."

"I get that a lot." Willow was unsurprised, she never could keep a secret.

"He's leaving?"

Willow missed her next step, nearly fell and Aragorn pulled back on to her feet, now facing her.

"You knew?"

"I suspected."

"You and Arwen, you both knew but neither of you told me."

"It was his choice to say, not ours."

"He's going to go, isn't he?"

"You would have him remain here, live a mortal life as you do?"

"Not all of us are as unselfish as you Aragorn."

"You would condemn him to life without his people? The elves are leaving, Willow, if he does not go with them, he may never go. Think very carefully about what you are asking of him. This is not some romance with a youth your own age. Legolas has lived for over a thousand years and that is not something he can give up easily."

"You think I should let him go?" her eyes glimmered with tears at the thought of losing him.

"I think you should let him decide."

"What if he doesn't choose me?"

Aragorn could not reply to this but held her close for a moment. The dance finished and he looked down at her.

"Then we will be here for you"

It was late that night, the feast had ended long ago and only a few were still awake, elves mostly, with Arwen and Aragorn sitting near the fire with Willow. Everyone was singing and Willow, too tired to join in, leaned back on her chair listening idly and then was startled when there was silence.

"A tune from Sunnydale?" the voice broke into her thoughts. She looked at the speaker, an elf maid, a friend from Rivendell, whom she had often sung with and had taught some songs from her world was asking her to sing.

"Now?" Willow did not feel like singing but this was inexplicable to the others who were unaware of what had passed between her and Legolas.

"Now. A tune from Sunnydale" they called.

Willow thought for a moment and began. It was one she had taught some of the others so they joined in slowly.


If you're not the one then why does my soul feel glad today?
If you're not the one then why does my hand fit yours this way?
If you are not mine then why does your heart return my call?
If you are not mine would I have the strength to stand at all?

I never know what the future brings, But I know you are here with me now
We'll make it through and I hope you are the one I share my life with

I don't want to run away but I can't take it, I don't understand
If I'm not made for you then why does my heart tell me that I am?
Is there any way that I can stay in your arms?

If I don't need you then why am I crying on my bed?
If I don't need you then why does your name resound in my head?
If you're not for me then why does this distance maim my life?
If you're not for me then why do I dream of being your wife?


Willow glanced up and saw him standing in the doorway watching her, the firelight glinting in his eyes. Resolutely she looked away again but carried on singing.


I don't know why you're so far away, but I know that this much is true
We'll make it through and I hope you are the one I share my life with
And I wish that you could be the one I die with
And I pray in you're the one I build my home with
I hope I love you all my life

I don't want to run away but I can't take it, I don't understand
If I'm not made for you then why does my heart tell me that I am
Is there any way that I can stay in your arms?

'Cause I miss you, body and soul so strong that it takes my breath away
And I breathe you into my heart and pray for the strength to stand today
'Cause I love you, whether it's wrong or right, and though I can't be with you tonight
I know my heart is by your side


She glanced up again but the doorway was empty.


I don't want to run away but I can't take it, I don't understand
If I'm not made for you then why does my heart tell me that I am?
Is there any way that I can stay in your arms?


There was general applause and cheers as they finished and Willow realised that she was crying. She was not missed as the elves began another tune, a hymn to Elbereth. She was stopped by the door by a strong arm and she looked up through the mist of tears and saw a tall elf, unusually well built with intent grey eyes and a stern look to him.

"We must talk Willow" and before she could realise it and stop him, he took her arm and pulled her into an alcove, set well back from the Hall and shrouded now in darkness.

"You will listen to me in silence as I have several wise words to say to you. Elf friend you may be but you are not eternal as we are. You are, no doubt, a beautiful young woman, strong hearted and strong minded but I am his father and his King and he will obey me."

"But…"

"There are no buts in this conversation. You will bid goodbye to my son tonight and he will return with me."

"I love him" she whispered.

"You hardly know him. And in a heartbeat you will be gone, leaving him to mourn your memory forever. Is that what you wish? Eternal sadness for the one you claim to love?"

"Of course not"

"Then let him go"

The King swept past her, leaving her leaning on the wall for support. She slid down the wall and hid her face in her hands, fighting for control before feeling cool hands on hers. She looked up through her fingers and Arwen was bending over her. She knelt beside the sobbing girl and held her as the tears ran down Willow's cheeks.

Willow was unsure how she got back to her room that night but somehow she did as she awoke there the next morning. The sunlight streaming into her room had awoken her and she shook her head groggily as the events of the night before came back to her. Willow realised she was not alone in the room and saw Legolas sitting on a chair pulled up next to the bed.

"You're awake"

"I am? Oh, yes, I am". Willow stared at him "What are you doing here?"

"I've been here most of the night"

Arwen had called for Legolas seeing the state that Willow was in and she had been taken back to her room. Legolas had sat with her throughout the night watching her as she slept, fixing her in his mind as he had done before he had left with the Fellowship. She had slept peacefully and it was all he could do to stop himself from waking her to spend his last hours with her.

"You're leaving, aren't you?" Willow took his hand "You should, you know. Your place is with your father."

Legolas was silent "You want me to go?"

"Of course I don't want you to go moron. You know that. But we have to do the right thing. What kind of life would we have together?"

Legolas seemed to be fighting with himself to say something but the words would not come to him. Instead, he took refuge in formality.

"I shall take my leave of you then. Perhaps my father will have need of me to come to Rivendell on occasion."

She smiled slightly at his language, for once he sounded like the prince that he was.

"I'll look forward to it" she replied.

He kissed her palms again, then her forehead and then her lips. He felt the wetness of the tears on her cheeks but she did not notice them. A voice from outside disturbed them.

"Legolas, coiasira a' kirma" - Legolas, time to part

"They're calling you - you must go."

He kissed her again "Don't forget me" he whispered.

And then he was gone.




Next Chapter