After seeing Galadriel, which reduced both Methos and Angel to gibbering idiots, the survivors of the End of Days were shown to a small house set high in the trees, where they would stay for the duration of their time in Middle Earth. Legolas had been surprised that Galadriel greeted their odd visitors by name. Obviously, she had been expecting them for some time. The elf prince sat in the lounge area of the little house their visitors had been given, waiting for them to figure out sleeping arrangements before taking them back to Galadriel, who wanted to speak with them again. His elven hearing had allowed him to hear their conversations earlier, while he had been leading them to the village, and Legolas couldn't help but feel sorry for the group of Warriors. Imagining what Middle Earth would have been like, had the ring not been destroyed, the elf prince resolved to offer his bow in their service whenever they made their way back to reclaim their world. Despite being the Slayer, and an Immortal to boot, Buffy felt a bit overwhelmed in Galadriel's presence. She could only imagine how the others felt. Judging by the looks on Methos and Angel's faces, it was taking all of their willpower not to fall to their knees, drooling at her feet. The mental image would've made her giggle, if not for the seriousness of their situation. The mere thought of what her world was like now was enough to quash any urge to laugh. The memory of the sound Xander's neck made as it snapped made Buffy feel vaguely ill, and the knowledge that Dawn must've been killed as well made her chest constrict with pain. They had left her home, supposedly safe. What a lie that had been. Tears prickled her eyes as she wondered whether or not Dawn's death had been quick. Had she been afraid? Had it hurt? Methos took her in  his arms, the look in his eyes saying without words that he understood her train of thought. Buffy snuggled against him, burying her head in his chest and trying to quell the urge to cry. She felt certain that if she started, she might never stop. She was the Slayer. She was supposed to keep the world safe from the legions of Hell. And she had failed. More than any of her predecessors, she had failed all of humanity, and allowed the world the be plunged into a darkness so deep that it might never again know light. Galadriel's voice drew her out of her melancholy, and Buffy raised her head so that she could see the elven woman. "I have known for some time that your arrival was imminent," Galadriel said, giving them a gentle smile. "Though I did not know the exact circumstances until you appeared." "You are the best Warriors your world has. Your presence here is to ensure that you survive the coming years to reclaim your world. Each of you is unique and irreplaceable," she said. Looking at Angel, Galadriel smiled. "You, the vampire with a soul," she said, her voice lyrical and soft. Her gaze went to Cordelia. "You, the human who became a Seer for your world's gods, and now a Higher Being." She looked at Buffy. "You, the Slayer. The one girl in your world with the strength and speed to fight the darkness, and now an Immortal with the capability of living forever to ensure that your world keeps the light." Galadriel turned to Methos. "You, the oldest Immortal in your world, whose lifetime spanned five thousand years to bring you to this point." She was quiet for a moment before speaking again. "I have a gift for you all. These are not tangible things, but rather, mystical gifts that will aid you in the battle to come." "Angel, what do you fear more than anything?" she inquired softly. The dark-haired vampire blinked, then looked down, ashamed. "I...Angelus. I'm afraid I'll lose my soul again," he answered quietly. Galadriel nodded. "You need never fear your demon again. From this moment on, your soul cannot be released from your body except at the instant of true death. With your soul's permanence comes the ability to walk in daylight without injury." Angel gaped at her, speechless. The elven woman turned to Methos. "Methos, you fear succumbing to the temptation of becoming Death once again." The world's oldest Immortal flushed and looked away. "The Horseman will forever be a part of who you are, but you need never fear him taking control again. He will be with you when you fight, but he cannot ever take away your hope and joy of life to make you become an indiscriminate killer," she said. "Buffy, you fear nothing but failure," Galadriel said. "From now on, you will never lose a battle that you wish to win. In addition, I hear your heart crying out for a child that you believe you will never have," she told her. "At a time of your choosing, you and Methos will conceive. You alone among Immortals will not be sterile. As long as you both survive to bear children, your Gathering can never happen." Buffy let out a squeak of surprise, her eyes wide. "Cordelia...You fear that you will never find love," Galadriel told her. "This gift I cannot give, because you already have it. You and Angel should speak to each other." The elven woman reached out and stroked down Connor's cheek gently. "The child fears nothing yet. To him, I give immortality. The only way he can be killed is by his own choice. At the prime of his life, he will cease to age. He will never know illness or what it means to be weakened with age." "You have all lived through a very harrowing experience. Go and rest now. You all need it," Galadriel told them, then  retreated, leaving them alone and very much stunned with this new turn of events.