FIC: REPOST: Militat omnis amans (Every lover is a warrior) Part 2c/?

["Beckett, Kevin" <kevin.beckett@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Militat omnis amans (Every lover is a warrior) Part 2c/?
K. Beckett (c) 2000 

Disclaimers:
Buffy, Willow and all of the other characters and places from the show
belong to Joss Whedon, WB and Mutant Enemy etal. Everyone and everything
else is mine. None of my characters are meant to resemble anyone living,
dead or un-dead, if you see yourself you are looking way too hard.

Rating: 
PG-13+ - heading to the R level

Other:
The Latin and Gaelic are mine; I take the responsibility for any
translations of them. In addition, the descriptions of the rituals, spells
and other craft work come from my traditions, so please don't take offence
if something described here does not match your traditions or what you think
it should.

Archiving etc.: 
Ask and I'll say yes. 

Spoilers:
Everything up to the middle of season four - I diverge then.

------------------------------------------

Elsewhere in the castle, others were not yet sleeping. Grael, Amana,
Frankel and a couple of other people were sitting around the long table in
the study, deep in conversation.

"I think that this is going to work out fine," Grael said to the group, "She
is young, strong and incredibly powerful."
"I agree," commented Amana. "She appears to have taken everything about
tonight's activities well. No panic and no fits of hysteria."
"The slayer is an unexpected bonus," interjected Frankel. "Having one with
her abilities may prove to be the deciding factor."
"That's true," replied Grael, "she also has an unbelievable amount of
strength and power, and if we can link the two together..."
"Yes?" Asked another member of the group.
"Well, it would mean our certain salvation," answered their leader.

"That speculation can wait till later," Amana said as she took up pen and
paper, "lets confirm what we need to accomplish in the next few days."
"We need to finish briefing them," answered Grael, "and then we will have to
assess Willow's training in greater detail. I think that we will also want
to begin to train Buffy also."
"But," interjected Frankel, "I want to work with her, get more details on
slayers, and slaying. Maybe have her train others."
"I agree with you Frankel," replied Grael, "however, in addition to that she
is going to need to be trained in her other abilities, certainly not to the
level of Willow, but she is going to need those skills."
"That is certainly true," continued Amana, "I think that a certain amount of
cross-training for both of them is in order. We should arrange to give
Willow some fighting practice, after all, she will not always have time for
her magic."

"I hate to interject but," said another member of the group who had been
silent up to now. Unlike the others he was dressed in form fitting, padded,
clothing and had a battle hardened and scarred face. He was the garrison
commander for the castle and had primary responsibility for the safety of
the mages when they were in residence. 

"What's that Daithi?" asked Frankel.
"Well, it's just that if we are talking about cross-training and other
things, we had better use our time wisely." Daithi replied.
"Why?" Replied Grael.
"My sources have begun to report that the opposition is gathering strength
and may be poised for a major strike at the capital."

"We will discuss this further tomorrow, Daithi," replied Amana. "However,
if we want to be able to get anything done in the morning, we have to get
some sleep in what is left of the night." And with that, she said her
goodnights and headed off to her suite.

Other members of the group also decided to turn in, and finishing off their
various beverages they headed to their respective. All except the
commander, who remained behind to have another mug of ale.

"Time," he thought, "how much time do we have before evil falls over the
land for good?"

--------------------------------------
In a different location, hundreds of kilometres from the activities going on
in the castle was another stronghold. Unlike Castle Maldor the buildings
were shrouded in darkness for no lights were visible from any of the few
openings that pierced the thick stonewalls. Inside it was dark and
unpleasant the temperature matching the sub-zero outside air. Several
different beings inhabited the building and none were overtly friendly to
humankind. 

Suddenly the atmosphere was punctured by a blood-curdling scream.
"What in the name of the Chaos Gods do you mean you don't know?"
Striding down a corridor was an immense figure, with blood red skin, yellow
eyes and sporting three horns. It turned towards another being, which was
practically running to keep up, and continued. 
"I told you to find out what those blighted mages were up to. You know that
my ability to see inside of that damned castle is very inadequate at the
best of times and now that all of them are in residence it is totally
impossible."
"I know master," the other creature replied. This one appeared to be a
human male of middle age. "But nothing I've done is generating answers."
"I don't care who or what you have to maim, torture, kidnap or kill - but
find me the answers, and find them fast." The master said punctuating its
statements with pointed jabs from its claw tipped fingers. "Or else I'll be
using your entrails to do my divining." With that, the demon turned and
left the corridor through a nearby door.

The humanoid shivered to his bones thinking to himself, "I've got to get
some answers, or get out of here."
Turing around he spotted a small, green frog like figure and yelled out,
"Kratel, get your webbed feet over here now!"
"Yes, master," the small imp like creature replied.
"You heard our terrible master. I need answers, but fast." The humanoid
continued as he and the imp returned back down the passageway. "Put
together a raiding party, five or so in addition to yourself, and get into
that accursed castle and get me a couple of victims so that I can torture
some answers out of them."
"We will depart at once master," answered the imp.

----------------------------------
Buffy woke the next morning at her usual time of just before dawn thinking
to herself, "damn, not even in the same reality and my slayer senses still
get me up at dawn." She realized that she was entangled with Willow with
their arms and legs intertwined. Feeling a warm spot above Willow's head
she though "well, Shadow-Cat must be off looking for her breakfast, I guess
I had better get my day going." Moving slowly and carefully so not to wake
her lover she got out of bed, only to realize that other than her ritual
robe and some blankets, she still did not have anything to wear. It was
cold in the room, but not freezing, obviously someone had been in to
re-build the fires.
"Oh, well," the slayer thought, "It's not as if Willow hasn't seen me naked
before, and I certainly don't want to wear my robe to do my exercises."

Buffy went into the sitting room and spotted an agitated cat reaching up and
scratching at the door.
"You want out, don't you girl? Buffy asked as she opened the door.
Shadow-Cat meowed back to the slayer and bolted out of the room. "We are
going to have to arrange for a cat-door and other kitty things if we are
here much longer," thought Buffy.

After quickly creating a free space in the room, by moving carpets away from
the floor, Buffy began her morning routine. She spent a dozen minutes doing
careful warm-up exercises and then spent about twenty minutes stretching out
her muscles. Once she had warmed-up properly, and having done the required
stretching, she moved into the serious portion of her morning workout.
Buffy, having had no formal, early, slayer training did not use the
council's particular workout routine, rather she used a combination of
Aikido and Karate katas which she and Giles had augmented to suit her
particular requirements. After twenty minutes or so she was beginning to
feel relaxed and the sweat was beginning to run off of her body. Earlier,
while doing her warm-up, Buffy had noticed an old broom by the door, which
she had used for several of her stretching routines. She now broke off a
four-foot section of it while thinking, "this will do until I find a
replacement." With that, she then launched into a series of Kendo exercises
concentrating on her thrusting attacks and her defensive speed.

Buffy was being watched. Willow had woken up shortly after Buffy had
started her katas and was enjoying watching the slightly erotic display of a
nude slayer exercising which was being put on for her benefit, even though
un-knowingly. In fact, she was beginning to become just a wee bit aroused
by the display.

Willow was familiar with Buffy's routine, having watched it several times,
albeit with a fully clothed slayer. Just as Buffy was finishing up the last
of her Kendo routines she said, "Meow, that looks yummy."

"What?" Exclaimed the startled slayer. "Will, I thought you were still
asleep. Just how long have you been watching me?"
"Oh, about thirty minutes or so," Willow said smiling. "I would never dream
of disturbing you at your exercise," she continued with an impish grin.
"And may I assume that you received no, vicarious, pleasure from watching my
activities?" Buffy asked as she grabbed a towel and headed back into the
bedroom.
"Who, me?" Answered Willow trying her best to look innocent.

"Up now, slouch," Buffy said as she proceeded to pull the blankets off the
protesting occupant.
"No, too cold, you come back to bed," protested the redhead.
"Nope, sloth-girl," Buffy answered, as she continued her assault on the
blankets, "time to rise, shine and bathe. If you are lucky and ask nice, I
just might let you wash my back though," she said as she left the room
heading for the bath.
"Oh, goody, may I please," said Willow, as she jumped out of bed. "Oh,
cold, goosy bumpies," she yelped and quickly ran to grab some of the
blankets from the night before.

"Morning love," the hacker said as she moved into the bathroom and hugged
the slayer from behind as she was in the process of gathering the soap and
shampoo for their bath.
"Sleep well?" she asked as she tuned Buffy around so that she would be able
to snag her good-morning kiss.
"Yep, how about you," the slayer replied returning, with vigour, the kiss.
"Not bad, weird dreams, though," Willow replied testing the water, "Oh,
goody-goody, hot," and proceeded to jump into the bath.
"What do you mean weird?" Asked a suddenly concerned slayer, as she to
entered the water.
"Well, just strange images, and vague uneasy feelings, like I've experienced
this reality before or something," Willow answered as she began to get to
work with soap. "Turn around Buff, you promised me back."
Buffy complied with the mock order from Willow saying, "well I didn't
exactly promise, but you have been good."
"How good?" Bantered the redhead.
"Very." Replied Buffy, "By the way," the blond continued, "you know that
what you did last night was nuts, right?"
Willow said nothing as she continued to wash Buffy's back. 
"I mean, off you go - dragging me and a cat with you, into an unknown portal
in the middle of a ritual, answering no questions."
"Hey, I didn't mean to bring the cat," Willow responded, "and, I had no real
choice Buffy, I'm supposed to help those who ask. I'm almost compelled to
go."
"Okay, its all water under the bridge anyway," the slayer replied, "I just
hope that these folks can get us home."
"Oh, I think so," Willow replied, "besides, I'm dieing to see what Giles's
reaction was."
"Well, I can guarantee, whatever his reaction, he wasn't speechless."
Answered Buffy.