FF: Two Worlds (Chapter 12: Sundown and Shadows)

["cilia" <cilia@xxxxx>]

Title: Two Worlds
Chapter 12: Sundown and Shadows
Series: Royalty (Book Three)
Author: Cilia
E-mail: cilia@xxxxx
Feedback: Please god yes
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.

Two Worlds
Cilia

Chapter 12: Sundown and Shadows

The sun had set slowly over the realm. Arelys, moon of the elves, had slowly
crawled across the dark sky and her smaller sister, Zagnan, would soon
follow. Together, their light would fill the night with a soft, golden glow.
But it was by the light of candles and magic orbs that Willow watched as the
elves and humans filtered into the war room and took their seats. Each of
the opposite elves casting nervous glances around the room.
The gathering was one of tension and one thing seemed to be holding it all
together, though, the presences of The Mage sitting at the head of the
table. Mage Willow Rosenberg-Summers, The Red Mage as the people had taken
to calling her.
Willow sat at the head of that table, looking at the two wings, extending
down each side, at the men and women sitting there and she wondered.
A short time ago, she was just getting married, enjoying bliss with her
love. Now, here she was, sitting at the head of a war council. But. we have
to do this, she told herself.
"Have you reached a decision?" she asked and projected some of
her magic into her voice, hoping that it would instill more confidence in it
than she felt. King Vitor arose from his seat
"We will offer our aid in retaking Necris. If." Vitor glanced at
Queen Piratess. "The drow apply the same force against those that threaten
our boarders," Vitor finished and sat back down.
The queen looked over her own gathered council and received a majority nod.
Not that she needed their approval, but I kept them happy.
"I except the terms set down by King Vitor," Queen Piratess
answered and general murmur of consent rolled across the room.
Willow raised her arms to bring the room to quiet.
"King Vitor, have you selected your general?" she asked.
"Yes," he stated, clearing his throat and standing again, "I
select, General Tark, of the Third House,"
After a quick look at his queen, a young drow male, with sharp features,
clad in black armor and long white hair tied into a tight ponytail, rose.
"I will serve King Vitor. Until this conflict has ended," he stated with red
eyes flashing. "Or until this pact is broken," he added.
He walked stiffly around the table and took a stance behind an empty seat
among Vitor's generals. After a moment Vitor motioned for him to sit.
After a pause, and a quick look around the room, Willow took a pause to sip
a glass of water that sat on the table next to her.
"Queen Piratess." she swallow hard, "have you selected your general?" she
asked.
Queen Piratess stood and looked across the table.
"I have, honored Mage. I chose." she paused for what seems an
intentional moment, "As my general, the Warrior Elisabeth
Rosenberg-Summers." The entire room seemed to gasp as one.
Buffy glanced at her wife and then to King Vitor before gathering her
strength around her like a blanket. She rose stiffly, tying not to shake
notably, and took a quick breath.
"I except this honor bestowed upon me. I will serve Queen Piratess until
these lands are safe once again," she said and after another quick glance to
her love, she also walked stiffly around the table to an empty seat and
waited for Queen Piratess to motioned for her to sit in Tark's empty seat.
"Then .the pact is complete." Willow said with a breath after
Buffy had sat down. "Let's.plan a war," she exclaimed.
And with that, the strategic planning began.

-

Joyce, Al'x, and Theris follow their dwarven guides through what seemed to
be a maze of caves and tunnels. In fact, that was exactly what they are.
This was the maze that let to the entrance into The Halls of Clan
Thunderfoot, the City of The Dwarves.
Without a guide you would be lost, with no hope salvation were you to wander
these paths without one. They were planned that way. Dwarves don't take
kindly to outsiders finding the path to their underground cities. Still it
was amazing where the reputation of Al'x of the Sun got you these days

"Theris?" Joyce whispered," Do dwarves dislike just High Elves, or all elves
in general?" she asked as a small, spinning ball of fire followed her,
hovering just over and behind her head as they past through a yet another
tunnel and into another small cave.
"Elves in general, I think." the High Elf responded. "They think
we are a 'carefree bunch of treehugers," she said and her voice getting a
bit louder, "That we spend to much time 'enjoying ourselves'," she
smirked. "They, however, definitely don't brew any mead themselves.
Certainly not over 50 different dwarven ales alone," she exclaimed.
"Looney buggers! The lot of ya!," Gymli huffed from in front of
them. "Spend too much." he said and it sound he was about to start a rant
when Joyce interrupted him.
"Thank you." Joyce dripped in a low, threatening voice. "Gymli"
"Or what then, wee lass?" Gymli asked and started to turn around
to face her, his hand going for the axe in his belt.
"Please. Will you all just calm down. Joyce. don't pick a fight
with Gymli. And Gymli.if you value your beard, I'd advise you not. to anger
my student," Al'x said in a calm voice as he looked up from a conversation
with one the group's members with a stern eye.
"Very well", "Whatever", "Just a little.", "Thinks she's.." was
heard mumbled from Gymli and Joyce's directions.

After a short and a rather un-scenic walk, Gymli announced:
"We're almost there."
No sooner had the words left his lips then the actual passage was upon them.
As they existed the last tunnel into a canyon they were faced with a twistng
path seemingly guarded by an army of boulders. Through the twists and turns
into the entrance, passing through the carved stone archway, they entered a
huge cavern. Actually, upon studying finely carved walls, the trio realized
they were now in the Halls.
They were in a very large, circular room. Nine entranceways were spaced
around the room, including the one they had entered through. By each
entrance stood beautifully carved statues. Rock statues carved from the rock
itself and above each entrance, looked to be signs, or labels, in a foreign
language.
Most likely dwarven, Joyce thought to herself. In the center of the hall was
what appeared to be a rather deep well.
"Til Namana?" Joyce tried and got chuckled at.
"To the Mines." Gymli translated. "Unless you and yer friends be
wanting a workout, and a good workout you'll get, you'll be going thata
way," he said, pointing to a different entrance in front of them. He waited
for an answered, but when none came he just huffed.
"Come on then," he said, noticing they didn't look too much in
the mood for a good workout.
"The King has been to told of yer arrival! He'll be wantin to meet the Great
Al'x of the Sun," one of the other dwarves piped in.
"Well, we don't want to disappoint, do we?" Al'x said, motioning
for Joyce and Theris to walk through ahead of him and added with a bow,
"Ladies first"

Their guide led them into yet another hall. This one decorated with weapons
and banners of all dwarven sorts. At the end of the hall, a short, stout,
greatly bearded figure sat upon an intricate throne carved from a solid
block of mythril. King Einar made an impressive sight indeed.
His long dark beard, streaked with gray, his dark, thick braids that hung
from each side of a mythril crown, royally adorning his head. The thing that
caught the trio's eyes, though, was that he wore a smith's apron, his hands
were sooty and his fingernails dirty.
"Approach," he commanded. When they were standing in front of the throne he
spoke again.
"I must apologize," he said looking at his hands. "I was in the smithy when
I heard of your arrival," his booming voice resonating through the hall.
"King Einar. We are honored to." Al'x began with a bow.
"Please." The King began with a wave of the hand, "It's me'self
that ought to be honored," he said and waved his hand again, but now towards
yet another entrance and stood.
"Come with me," he huffed, and turned away. "The fire's a dyin," he added as
an afterthought.
Al'x turned back to his companions and shrugged. Theris and Joyce just
smiled and motioned for him to lead this time. Al'x followed the King
through a hallway into a small, yet well stocked and organized smithy.
"Well make yer 'self useful, lad! Ya can talk n' work at the
same time can't ya? Blow into that furnace there." the King said as he
picked up a lump of metal and inspected it. Turning it over slowly in his
thick hands.
"Your Highness," Al'x started, trying to get the king's
attention. "I've come to ask you for a favor." he continued, pumping air
into the furnace, causing the heat to grow noticeably.
"Please! Call me Einar," the King said, sticking the lump into
the furnace.
"Einar then... I've come to ask for your aid," Al'x started
again. "I'm on a mission from King Vitor. We are to evaluate the situation
on his borders."
"Well what've ya found, lad"?" Einar asked as he hammered the
lump of mythril.
"Goblins. Massing in hoards unlike any I've ever seen. We had a
battle." The pumping slowed, "They killed all of my best men, .except those
accounted for." he shared a quick glance with his friends, "before we were
able to defeat them. We lost allot of good men and women," he added quietly.
"But. you have defeated your threat." The King said, turning a
questioning look to Al'x. "Why not return and report?" he asked.
"Because honor." Al'x said facing the king. "Has not yet be
restored," he stated.
"Aha! So ya be wantin to kill more then, eh?" Einar asked,
turning back to his forge.
"We are going to the Drow City of Necris," Al'x said calmly.
The King quickly turned back to face him
"Now why would ya ever, without the mead cloudin yer mind, would ya be
wantin to do somthin like that?" he asked.
"Because I." He started and then looked towards Theris. "We
believe that whatever is behind the threat to the Elfin Kingdom." he pointed
down, "starts down there," he finished.
"Then I'm guessin ya haven't heard. Necris has fallen a moon ago, at least.
Their army retreated, lookin for allies, for help," The King hurrumphed.
"Not like they were gonna be findin much sympathy." he never stopped
banging. "From anyone," he added with a heavy blow to the lump.
"Then I must urge you!" Al'x stopped his pumping and stepped
toward the dwarf. "March upon Necris!" he stated firmly and made a fist,
"Retake it!" he said and took another step towards the king.
The room vibrated with the sound of the King's hammer hitting the ground.
"Ya mind sayin that again?" Einar asked, the incredulous tone obvious in his
voice. They are now standing face to face, so to speak.
"It's obvious."Al'x said, " .that whatever has driven the lesser
evils to hoard together, probably has bigger plans in the works and Necris
was just the start. It won't stop there. So the status quo. must. be.
restored and it's up to us to restore the balance." Al'x explained. "And I
do not doubt that King Vitor is thinking the same thing." he added.
"You are asking me to. take quite a risk, Al'x of the Sun,"
Einar stated taking a step back to pick up his hammer.
"I know." Al'x said with a grin. "But the rewards... the rewards
could be quite substantial and..." He paused for effect, ".being a good guy
in a good war on the good side is good for business," Al'x said and stepped
back to the furnace to continue his task.
"I'll be needin to take this up with the council, ya know."
Sparks fly as the King continued his attack on the mythril chunk
"Yet we cannot march at the drop o'yer 'at."
There was a loud bang as he struck the lump.
"Gathering an army takes time."
Another bang.
"You've spent yer time on the battlefield, Al'x."
Bang!
"You should know that."
Bang!
"Or should I say General Al'x of the Sun," Einar puffed out between breaths
and strikes.
"Then we shall stay and await your decision," Al'x said with a
confirming glance at the others in his group.
"Then I offer my hospitality," The King of The Clan ThunderFoot nodded.
"Um.may I ask. what you are making?" Al'x asked, continuing his pumping
task. Noticing the girls didn't seem so have any more of a task but to watch
him sweat. The smug, satisfied smiles, also, did not go unnoticed
"An amulet." Einar answered gruffly, "for. the High Elf," he
added.
"May I ask why?" Theris asked.
"It's not often that we receive guests of such standing and beauty like yer'
self and such guest should be honored with gifts," The King explained and Al
'x smile as the High Elf blushed.
"Don't worry lass, I'll craft something for ya too," The King said with a
look at Joyce.
"You don't have to stay," Al'x offered after a few minutes of
Joyce and Theris whispering between themselves.
"Oh but we want to," Joyce said with a smirk.
"Joyce come with me," Theris said all of sudden.
"What is it?" Joyce asked watching the confused look on her
friends face.
"There is another elf here," the High Elf stated.
"That would be Triel, ya'll find 'er at the temple," the King
said.
Joyce followed Theris as the High Elf left the smithy in the closets thing
to a panic as Al'x had seen her in.
"What was that all about?" he asked.
"The High Elf senses another elf," The King said, "better not
ask, now pump lad," he added and struck the metal.
Why me? Al'x thought to himself.

-

Buffy sat against battlements and blew out a deep breath. Planning a war
definitely was not high on the list of things-that-are-easy-to-plan-for. The
Slayer instincts helped, but still, who would have thought that summoning an
army would involve so much. Come to think of it, who would of thought we
would be having to summoning an army at all. They'd all known that there was
chance it would come down to this, but they'd also all hoped against it. But
now, of course, it was her duty, yet another one, to fight as the appointed
general to Queen Piratess's army and there was no turning back now. Still it
was is a good fight, if there was such a thing.
"Vitor is hoping that Al'x of the Sun will return in time for
the start of the campaign," Piratess said as she leaned over the
battlements. Her voice broke the silence, being that they were the only two
on the castle walls, besides the occasional guard.
"He does have a knack for showing up in the nick of time." Buffy
answered after a pause.
"How did your wife take the news?" Piratess finally asked of her
new general after another moment of silence.
"She was. shocked, but I think. a part of her already suspected
it," Buffy said quietly.
"I won't promise you that this will be easy. Because it will not
be. You will have to assert force. Get their respect. Then they may obey,"
Piratess stated and looked down at the sitting girl.
"I suspected as much." Buff said with huff, " It must be
humiliating for them," she made gesture of the hand, "ya know, to be led by
a human female of only twenty years," she finished with a weak smile.
"It is not the female part they will find difficulty following,
but show them. Show them that you can lead and they will follow. I am sure
you will do fine," Piratess said.
"What about Stjar'a? Are you going to ask her to join your
army?" Buffy asked.
"You. know?" The queen asked, looking down at the slayer
"Yea. The resemblance between you two.well. becomes kinda clear
when you know what to look for." Buffy trailed off.
"The nose." Piratess said with a small nod, "and I have been
told just today, the ears. yes, I know," she added with a small smile.
"The tilt of the eyes, too," Buffy added and glanced at the
Queen.
"No...." Piratess stated in a tired voice and sat down beside
the blonde. "I will not ask Stjar'a to join me, but I'm sure she'll come
around. In time," she added.
"Cordy will help her come to terms with this." Buffy offered,
"together, they'll do what's right," she added with a smile.
Piratess nodded and stood up.
"We will rejoin my army in the morning," she said.
"I'll be ready," Buffy said and stood, "Willow is going to stay
here. Since Amy.Amy is going to need more battle training. Seeing as how
there's a war about to start and all," she explained.
Amy, Priatess thought and moved her eyes questioningly, "Amy."
she said and then it came to her, "isn't that the King's lover?" she asked.
"Lovers? Oh ho, Amy and Vitor, no. no, no" Buffy exclaimed,
chuckling slightly, "They.they're currently, uh. doing, well.what we call,
fooling around," she said looking for the right words.
"Fooling. around?" Piratess asked.
"Trying to decide. whether or not." she said dicing around what
might be apart of a queens etiquette.".to go further." she said and turned
face the Queen again, ".sort of like courting only more complicated" Buffy
finished and gave Piratess a questioning look. "Am I making any sense what
so ever?" she asked after a moment's silence.
"I think I so." Piratess nodded with a small smile.
"You know Tessa," Buffy exclaimed with smile and slapped
Piratess on the back as they made there way down from the battlements." I
think we're going to get along okay."
"Tessa?" The Queen asked with a questioning look.
"Come on." The Slayer said, using a little bit of slayer
strength to hook the queen's arm. "I'll explain it over a drink,"" she said
as she continued to lead the commander of her army and the grandmother of
one of her best friends, down into the castle for a drink.

To Be Continued...