FF: Two Worlds (Chapter 21: Celebrations)

["cilia" <cilia@xxxxx>]

I'm back once again, with some interestings tales of the Old Realms,
Cilia

Title: Two Worlds
Chapter 21: Celebrations
Series: Royalty (Book Three)
Author: Cilia
Edited and Revised by: Brndn
E-mail: cilia@xxxxx
Feedback: Please god yes
Pairings: B/W, C/f, X/J, Amy/m
Distribution and Archiving: Sure go for it
Summary: You know this dont you?
Missting Parts: E-mail me and I'll send you what you need.
Notes: A Big Thanks to my beta "brndn" for getting me started on this again
and being my faithful beta and Ollie for plot line helping.

Two Worlds
Cilia

Chapter 21: Celebrations

They walked through a dark, underground world. The steady clanking of
weapons always present along with the loud voices of the dwarves. They
traded tales of battles, past and future. A small flame, provided by Joyce,
guided their part of the group, since Alx and Joyce didnt have the gift of
infravision. Along with them were forty dwarves, the forerunners, used to
clear anything blocking the path. A head of them were ten scouts. Having
proven themselves in the mines, theyd been asked to travel with them.
So I picks up dis goblins leg n&
Ug, dwarfs and their stories, Theris commented, shaking her head.
Its not that bad. I mean wouldnt you use various parts of your foe to
defeat him if you had to? Joyce asked with a grin.
Im a High Elf, Theris said simply, hoping to end all arguments about
whether or not it was a feasible option to beat your enemies to death with
body parts.
And Im an Avatar, but that doesnt mean I use fire all the time, Joyce
pointed out.
But you do use it a little too much, Alx quipped it.
Thank you oh wise mentor, Joyce retorted with a playful snarl.
And dont you forget it. I dont want you cutting lose when were in tight
quarters, Alx stated.
Actually, I dont think the fire burns oxygen. It is, after all, just
something Im projecting, Joyce pointed out.
Um, yea, but it still burns, Joyce, and I really dont want to be the
kebab formerly known as Alx Sun, Alx answered.
Ach! Stop da nonsense. Thlass aint gonna be aburnin no one, Gymli
exclaimed from in front of them. R ye, wee lass? he asked and looked back
and up to face them.
Oh, I dont know, I might, Joyce answered with a wicked smile.
Father, dont anger the avatar, Ziel hissed at the dwarf.
Bah, she aint gonna burn er drinkin pardner, Gymli said. At wouldnt
be sportin, he added.
Hows your head, by the way? Joyce asked with a laugh.
It be fine. Considerin ya used me fer as yer club, at is. Gymli huffed
and banged a fist on his helmet.
Joyce!? Alx exclaimed. I let you out my sight for one day and&
Hey, it wasnt that bad. I needed a club, so I just grabbed the nearest
thing, Joyce explained with a shrug.
That thing being our good friend Gymli, Alx interrupted.
Well& yea. I mean, Theris didnt seem to mind and Gymli had just shouted
something, so& Joyce stated.
And that something was what? Something along the lines of: Let me down ya
crazy git, Alx exclaimed.
Nooo. It was something more like: YAHAA!! Swing me back around lass! We
missed a few! Joyce said as she mimicked her swings in the air. Gymli just
smiled.
Alx threw up his hands in exasperation, Oh, why do I bother, he half
shouted.
Because youre an good soul, Theris said and patted him on the shoulder.
They all stopped at the sound of running footsteps coming towards them.
Genral Alx Sun, a scout exclaimed as he approached.
What is it lad? Alx asked.
We a jus spotted som golems. Stone golems they be. Four of em, he
reported.
Heading this way? Alx asked and the scout nodded.
Great. Okay, go inform the King, tell him to pick up the pace if he wants
in on the action, he said and the scout was off as fast as his little legs
could carry him.
Theris, how far behind us is the main bulk, Alx asked.
Id say about two hundred paces, she answered, elven paces, she added.
Great, Alx muttered and looked back over the party following them.
Commander! We have golems ahead, Alx shouted.
Ow many? a gruff voice shouted back.
Four, I need twelve of your men to help take them out, Alx shouted.
Ya gotem, the commander said and moments later they were joined by
eleven sturdy dwarves, all with battle-ready grins.
Simple plan, weve got four stone golems heading our way. Now, under
normal circumstances, this would be bad thing, but weve got a high elf on
our side. So, all we need to do is distract the things while Theris banishes
them, Alx explained.
You can& banish them, cant you? Joyce whispered to her friend.
Sure, Theris answered, just takes a little time is all.
How long? Joyce asked.
Not so long that Alx cant provide it, Theris said calmly.
Ill take point, Alx said as he drew his sword. I want six on either
side of the cave. Keep yourselves out of sight until I give the signal.
Joyce, you protect Theris while she does her part he stated as they slowly
made their way down the tunnels.
Theris, what exactly is a golem? Joyce asked as they made theyre way to
the side.
Theyre elemental beings that a mage summons to fight. Stone golems are
usually about ten feet tall, Theris explained.
And hes going to face them alone? Joyce asked as they found a rock
outcropping and made their way towards it
You know Alx, he is not to be underestimated. Theris said calmly as they
started to feel slight vibrations in floor from the approaching monsters.
Why am I reminded of Jurassic park, Joyce thought to her self.
This seems like a good spot, Theris said as they ducked behind the rock
wall.
Oh my god! Joyce exclaimed as she looked over the rock they were behind
and beheld the monsters approaching.
Ugly basterds, ain't dey. Gymli stated.
Sshh! Ziel shushed as Theris started a soft chant and lifted slightly
from the ground.
Joyce turned away; her eyes had fixed on her friend and mentor as he walked
up to the golems without a care in the world
Please be careful, Al'x she whispered.
Whether or not he heard her, didnt matter at that moment. He dodged a thick
arm that swung high, then jumped aside to avoid being crushed by another
coming straight down. Going in low, he slashed at the monsters legs in
hopes of slowing it down.
Don ya be doin it, lass, Gymli said from besides her as he gripped his
axe tighter.
Do what? Joyce asked.
Be throwin one oyer fire bolts at ththing, Gymli said with a nod.
I wasnt&
Ya be carin fer im n there be no knowin what ye might be doin, Gymli
stated.
There was a loud crash as Alx succeeded in cleaving off one of the
creatures legs and it fell to the ground. The other three were now keeping
him pretty busy.
A shout of Charge! was heard over the sound of crumbling rock and the
response was immediate. The dwarves jumped out their hiding places, howling,
and beating their axes against shields and armor.
YAHAA!!! Gymli bellowed as he launched off a large rock, swung the axe,
and embedded it firmly in the creatures back.
Ach! Of all da lousy, stone pickin, no good, rock-eatin& he cursed as
he tried to dislodge his axe. Uh oh! he muttered as the creature spun its
back towards a wall. He could guess its plan.
Hang on! Alx shouted as he sheathed his sword and jumped. He grabbed the
dwarfs legs and yanked him and the axe off the creature. They landed in a
pile against wall of the tunnel and were on their feet instantly.
Anytime now, Theris! Alx shouted as he drew his sword again and started
to swing. One of the golems was bearing down on the pair.
Hurry it up, ye batty elf, Gymli exclaimed as he swung his axe.
Joyce looked at Theris, and then at Alx and Gymli. She glanced at Ziel who
nodded. The flame in the avatars eyes erupted and her sword came to life and
was in her hand in a blink of an eye. She sprung in motion, making a line
straight for her friends. She jumped, higher then shed ever thought
possible and brought the sword up over her head. The there was loud crash
and a flash of light, as the flaming sword sliced the monster in half. The
two sides fell apart almost comically.
Need a hand? Joyce asked as she stepped over the pile of stones that had
threatened her friends.
I thought I told you to& Alx didnt get a chance to finish, as the rest
of the golems started to sink back into the cavern floor.
You were saying? Joyce asked.
Uh, thank you, Alx said dryly as he sheathed his sword.
Thanks lass. Though Im sher we coulda andled em rselves, Gymli
huffed.
Come on, lets get keep moving, Alx said and dusted himself off.
Ziel watched her companions and noted something down in a small leather
bound book.
Youre searching for heroes? Theris asked.
What? How&how did you know? Ziel asked with a surprised look and closed
the book.
Easy. An avatar arrives, and you wish to chronicle her journey. And you
find one of the realms greater heroes is travel with her. Now it is one of
your main missions, as a priestess, to search for true heroes, is it not?
Theris answered.
Please dont tell them?
I wont. You have my word. They have enough on their minds already. Now
lets go and join the group.

-

A party, thats what the general had called it. Unfortunately, Xare was
having a hard time doing the required thing at& parties. She was supposed to
be having fun, but she too busy watching her back.
Relax Xare, were off duty& sorry, not on guard tonight, so let your guard
down a bit, Buffy said with a smile and her wife, the Red Mage, on her arm,
also smiled.
Yeah Xare. From what Ive heard, you need to loosen up, Willow said. Let
your hair down, so to speak.
If you say so, honored mage, Xare said with a nod.
Its Willow, Willow said pointedly.
You had better do what she says, Xare, Cordelia said as she and Stjara
joined them.
So wheres this Grimm fellow? Willow asked as she looked around.
He found some faired haired elf maiden and dragged her to the dance area,
Xare said and pointed to the next hall as the music drifted through the air.
Then why dont you hunt down some fair haired male drow? It shouldnt be
that hard. Cordelia said.
The commander shrugged her shoulders, Drow males just dont-
-Do it for you, Stjara said and the group broke out in collective
giggles.
No. Theyre just so& plain, Xare explained.
Well&what about Tark, Willow quipped in a little too loudly as the idea
struck her. He seemed nice.
No, I couldnt& Xare said as she remembered the young drow she had met
during her run last night.
Why not? He is a drow. A fine specimen, I might add, male, and available,
Cordelia counted off on her fingers and then received a punch on the
shoulder from Stjara.
But, he is of the Third House, Xare pointed out.
Xare, Im going to tell you this as a friend and a commanding officer, go
find him and have fun, Buffy said.
Yes maam. Will there be anything else? Xare said with a smile and an
exaggerated salute.
Um, excuse us, Cordelia said hurriedly and dragged Stjara into the dance
hall. She had spotted Piratess and wanted to get Stjara away from her
grandmother as fast as possible.
Ill just go and find myself that fine specimen of a drow male, Xare said
and excused herself.
Come on, its time you got to know Tessa, Buffy said as dragged her wife
with her across the room.
There was a small group of royals around the queen, trying to get her
attention for this matter or that, but as they saw the General and the Red
Mage approach, they quietly dispersed. These royals are all business and no
party, the slayer thought to her self as she got the queens attention.
Queen Piratess, I believe you know my wife, Buffy introduced.
Of course, General, Piratess said and offered her hand to the little red
head.
Okay guys, enough with the formalities, Buffy exclaimed as she watched
the handshake.	Willow meet Tessa, otherwise known as Queen Piratess. Tessa
meet Willow, sometimes referred to as the Red Mage, and my sweetie. Buffy
said with a grin.

-

Stjara and Cordelia walked, hand in hand, straight through the dance hall.
The couple had spotted Grimm out in the courtyard dancing.
It seems like the Drow are having fun, Cordelia stated.
Well I know I am, Stjara said with a squeeze to her girlfriends hand.
Hey! Look, bards, Cordelia said and pointed towards the fire, where two
bards, one drow and the other a Forrest Elf, were taking turns, competing
for the applause. Lets go listen, Cordelia said and towed her astone
along.
The story that the drow bard was telling was one of love and war. Like
many others, this one hit home with the crowd, being a tale of a drow prince
that fell in love with the surface elf maiden that nursed him back to
health.
Cordelia saw her lover getting uncomfortable at the familiarity of the
story. Stjara, its just a story,
Now, this story, as far I as I know& is true, and happened thirty seven
season ago, the bard said and sipped his wine.
Ive got to go, Stjara said and stood.
Great, Cordelia muttered and followed her lover. Stjara wait up, she
called, but she was gone.
She looks like her father, an old voice said from behind her.
Excuse me, Cordelia asked, turned around and came face to face with an
elderly drow healer.
I refer to Prince Drek, of course, the man said.
How&how did you know the prince, Cordelia asked as she sat down with the
healer.
It was I that nursed him, and healed his scrapes when he was a boy, the
old man explained.
Was he&ah& how do I put it&nice? Cordelia asked, her expression curious.
For a drow, he had heart of gold. But, for a human like yourself that is
of little comfort, I suppose, he answered with a thin smile.
Can I&can I ask that you keep this from the soldiers, for the time being
at least? Cordelia asked in a soft voice after a moments silence.
I have no desire to ruin a young elves life, my dear. She will come to
terms with it, in her own time, he said and stood. But now, its time for
an old drow to rest, he said and walked away.
What is your name? Cordelia asked, but didnt stand.
Graven. My name is Graven, Lady Cordelia, the old healer said as he
continued walking.

-

Xare found General Tark in the makeshift barroom that had been set up in one
of the castles many spare rooms. The sight was strange, though, to say the
least. There was circle of drows and elves around two males and a weeping
girl that was huddled against her friends.
A loud voice was saying: &and if I ever see you so much as look at that
maiden, I will see to it that you do not make it back into Necris, Tark was
giving the young royal he held by the throat, his feet tangling in the air,
a lesson in manners.
Now go, he said and dropped him. The young drow scurried away. Tark then
walked over to the weeping girl, a handmaiden by the looks of it.
Are you unharmed? he asked with soft red eyes.
Y-yes, the girl said with a small smile and a sniff, thanks to you, she
added.
I was just doing whats right, Tark answered and turned away.
Xares eyes followed him as he walked through the crowd back to his table
and sat down.
You may join me, Commander, he said.
Is that an order? Xare asked.
It is if thats the only way to get you to sit, he offered and pushed a
chair from underneath the table with his foot.
So, is this how you spend your time? Nursing children and defending young
maidens honor? Xare asked smugly as mug was placed in front of her.
I do whats right, Lady Xare. What that young drow did was wrong, by any
standards, he explained, And, as for me playing the nanny& he continued
with a shrug, perhaps I just long for quieter times, Lady Xare
Please, dont call me that, Xare said and blushed slightly.
What? Lady Xare of the Houseless has a nice ring to it, he said.
Well& General Buffy has offered me command. Once she steps down, that is.
Xare said.
What is she like? Tark asked.
Shes caring. She walks among the soldier and treats them like equals.
Surely you must have heard that we marched into the city on foot& all of
us! Xare explained.
The news had reached my ears, he said with a purposeful wiggle of his
ears, but I didnt believe it at first, Tark added.
Well, believe it now. Im sure that all of them would follow her into hell
and back if she commanded, Xare exclaimed. What about you, how are the
elves treating you?
They respect me, but I think they find me a little odd for a drow, Tark
said with a smile.
Tark, Im sorry to say this, but you are odd for a drow, Xare said with a
laugh.
Well, so are you, Tark retorted as the band moved in the room and started
tuning their instruments.
Shortly after the music had started to flow, a handmaiden shyly approached
the table, General Tark?
Excuse me, Tark said and stood. Taking the girls hand, he led her onto
the makeshift dance floor. Xare watched as he danced seemingly with every
female in the room, always keeping a pleasant expression. Her mind turned
towards her own loneliness.
Lady Xare? he asked snapping her out of her thoughts.
Huh? she asked looking up at an offered hand. No& I mean, no& I can
t&no&
Its simple. Just listen to the music and follow my lead, he said And
that& is an order, he added with a grin.
You wouldnt& dare! she exclaimed as he hauled her to her feet,
literally.

-

Cordelia walked out into the forest. Just past a little clearing was a place
Stjara always went when she feeling down.
Star? I know youre here, she said as she climbed their favorite tree.
Hey, Stjara said.
Your secrets safe, you know Cordelia said.
I figured as much. And yea, I know I overacted, she said with a raised
hand.	On the way out to find you I met someone, whom&I think you should
talk to, Cordelia said.
Who?
A drow healer named Graven. Turns out he knew your& Prince Drek quite
well, Cordelia answered.
Did he recognize me?
Yes, but he wont tell, Cordelia said in a reassuring voice.
Thats good, but&
No buts, youll come to terms with this. I know you will, Cordelia said
and put an arm around her.
Thanks, Stjara whispered with a smile.
So, how come you didnt tell me you were thirty six? Cordelia asked with
a grin.
-

Grimm sat alone in the castles armory. He had wandered here after he had
danced a little too much and twisted his ankle trying to jump over a table.
The healer could wait until tomorrow, now he just wanted to be alone with
his thoughts and wine.
I thought thieves never turned their back to a door? a voice asked from
the doorway.
I thought queens never spoke to common thieves, he retorted without
turning.
You really dislike Royalty with vengeance, dont you? Piratess asked as
she sat on the floor next to him. He was staring up at a tapestry depicting
some ancient battle.
Cordelia told me about this thing they have were they come from. Its
called a& a democracy; its a beautiful theory, actually. The rulers receive
the power from the people, who vote at for them regularly. I mean it makes
sense, the power comes from the masses, not from birth, or blood, but from
the people, Grimm said and took another swig from the bottle.
Power also comes from violence and fear. You can use that to control the
masses, Piratess said.
True, he said and handed her the bottle. Still, hasnt there ever been a
time when youve wanted to be something else? he asked.
Not bound by blood and honor, you mean? Of course, she said and took a
sip from the bottle.
My father wanted me to be a scholar, you know, Grimm said and accepted
the bottle.
But you chose to become a thief, Piratess stated.
Nah, I just kind of fell into it, I guess& I wanted excitement, he
exclaimed and swirled the contents of the bottle. You know, see the world.
I ran away once, Piratess confessed.
You did?
Yes, the Imperial Phalanx caught me in about a day, though, she nodded.
See, there isnt as much of a difference between the Queen and the Thief.
Weve both wanted different lives, Grimm noted with a slur.
Piratess sighed and accepted the bottle again. But you have yours
and&well, Im still the queen,
The two sat in contemplative silence for a few candle marks.
What battle is this? Grimm finally asked with a wave to the tapestry, Cuz
Ive been looking at for a candle mark and I cant place it.
Ill tell you then, Piratess said, This is a battler fought between the
drow and the moon elves about &two hundred seasons ago, I think. Now the man
with the golden crown is&
If anybody would have passed that room and looked in, they probably would
have stopped and looked again, for its not everyday you see a Queen sharing
a bottle of elven wine with a thief, or visa versa.

-

Buffy and Willow sat in the herbal gardens and watched as the early morning
sky grew brighter. The brilliant pinks and purples filled the horizon.
I think we can chalk this feast up as a success, Buffy said to her wife
who was resting her head in her lap.
Yep! Though Vitor and Amy avoided each other the whole night, Willow said
as she stifled a yawn.
Turned in early, both of them, Buffy nodded.
I think theyll work it out, Willow stated, and you know, Tessa is much
nicer than I thought, she added.
Yea, she grows on you, Buffy said.
So now&theres nothing left but going to war, Willow said in a somber,
tired tone.
Dont say it like that. We have our own tent, access to the officers
galley and we can look out for each other, Buffy said with a smile and
ruffled her wifes hair.
Willow? she asked when there was no reply. Great, she muttered when
Willow snorted gently snoring. Come on dear, lets get you to bed, she said
and gently gathered Willow into her arms.

TBC.......