FF: Two Worlds (Chapter 22: Questions Along the Way)

["cilia" <cilia@xxxxx>]

Title: Two Worlds
Chapter 22: Questions Along the Way
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 22: Questions Along the Way

It was complete, but organized, chaos as the Elf Alliance set out for the
Nether. Row after row of soldiers marched through the city and the outlying
villages with the caravans carrying food and supplies following. Bringing up
the rear were the Royals, with their servants, cooks, and journal writers,
there to record their heroism. Buffy snorted at the thought of the royals
being confused with heroes.
?General?? Xare asked. They were heading out to meet their soldiers. Buffy,
having foreseen the trouble of getting out of the city, had ordered the camp
moved before the celebration even began.
It was one thing to bring this massive fighting force together, it was a
whole other matter to get them organized and actually out of the city.
Because of the sheer number of soldiers, they were experiencing a sort of
traffic jam.
?It?s these Royals,? Buffy said with a gesture as they passed the squabbling
dignitaries.
?I think they?ll eventually do their share,? Grimm said. ?It?s amazing how
motivated one can get when one?s life is threatened. We can let them prance
around for now.?
Buffy glanced over at the thief and something clicked, ?Grimm? you got some
last night didn?t you,? she said with a grin and a nudge.
?As a matter of fact, I did spend the night with thee most beautiful woman
I?ve ever seen. However, she, uh, seemed immune to my charms. I suspect that
magic was involved. Yea, there was definitely magic involved.? he said.
?Grimm puh-lease, save the bull for later,? Cordelia griped as she and
Stjar?a joined them.
?Did someone have a little too much-? Buffy said, but was stopped by
Cordelia?s upraised hand.
?I did not have to much wine, I just? hit my head?on? something,? she said
and blushed slightly.
?Stjar?a, what did you do my scout?? Buffy asked in a commanding voice.
?Me? but, but, it was her idea,? Stjar?a said and by now Grimm was laughing
and Xare was chewing on a smile.
?Oh, grow up,? Cordelia exclaimed.
?Sorry,? Grimm and Xare said together.
?Guys?this doesn?t change the fact that the gates are still jammed!? Buffy
said as stood on her tiptoes.
?Well I know a way out, but you? are not going to like,? Grimm said.
?The soldiers are expecting us, so if you have a way out tell me,? Buffy
said.
?Very well. Follow me,? Grimm said and motioned for them to follow. The
group did, and ended up standing on the tall city walls looking around,
mostly down.
?This is your idea?? Xare asked.
?What? We jumped into that tree, grab that thick branch there and swing
down to the ground,? Grimm said. ?Simple?
?I?m a Drow, Grimm, not a Forest Elf,? Xare protested.
?Oh come now, Number One, you?re not going to be upstaged by a scout? are
you?? Buffy asked.
?Laters,? Cordelia said with a wave and jumped into the air. Stjar?a could
have sworn her lover hovered slightly before landing, standing up straight,
on the branch below the one Grimm had pointed out.
?After you,? Stjar?a said and motioned Grimm to go.
?YEAHA!!? Grimm shouted at the top of his lungs as he lunged for the
branch. He grabbed hold of it and swung down to the ground. Not as
gracefully as he would have liked, but he landed on his feet.
?Come on, Xare. You can do that,? Buffy said and patted Xare?s back.
Without a word, Xare jumped, grabbed the branch, and swung a full circle
around it, before letting go and landing.
?I think we?re being challenged,? Buffy stated.
?Ha, watch and learn,? Stjar?a said. And with that did a half pirouette and
stood on her toes at the edge of the wall, facing away from the forest, her
arms outstretched. The jump was graceful, the turn perfect, and the landing
on the branch silent.
?Well hm?? Buffy said as she looked down at her friends on the ground and
then at the bracelet around her wrist. Smiling, she took a step forward and
fell straight down. As she neared the ground, she slowed and landed softly
in a crouch. Standing up and dusting herself off, she looked at her friends
and then up the wall. The looks she was receiving from her friends were less
than pleasant.
?What?? she asked.
?That?s cheating!? Cordelia exclaimed.
?What? I?m a Slayer married to a mage. Deal with it,? Buffy said and tucked
lock of hair behind her ear.
?Lets walk on, people, we have a war to get to? she said and marched into
the forest. Her dazed and confused, not to mention slightly pissed friends
followed behind.
?It?s still cheating,? Cordelia protested.

-

Willow stood on a high hill that looked out over the marching army. She
watched the seemingly endless line of soldiers pass by, many of which, she
knew, would not be returning. The Red Mage was powerful, and she would make
sure as many as possible did reach home. However, there were limits even to
her abilities.
She would join Buffy later that night, of course, but she wanted to be here
to see every single soldier off, sort of. They occasionally looked up at the
red figure on the hill, the robes billowing around her in the breeze. They
would salute, raise their swords or spears, and then walk past.
?So many,? a child?s voice said with awe.
?Oh, hello Litni,? Willow said with a smile as she looked down at the
child. ?What are you doing up here??
?I came to wave goodbye to Tark,? the girl said. ?Will he be okay?? the
child asked in a small voice after they had watched more soldiers pass.
?Promise me he?ll be alright.?
?I can promise. But maybe, you should make him promise?? Willow said with a
smile and pointed to the green-cloaked man walking casually up the hill.
?Tark,? the girl exclaimed as she ran up to him.
?Hello little one,? Tark said as he knelt on the ground and pulled back his
hood.
?I saw you with Xare last night,? she exclaimed.
?And I thank you for making that public knowledge,? Tark said with a grin
and a glance towards Willow, ?I will be back, I promise,? he said and hugged
her.
?You promise?? Litni asked into his shoulder.
?I promise. And you know that Willow will drag me back if it is needed,?
Tark said. He stood and ruffled the child?s hair. ?Take care, little one.?
?Bye-bye, Tark,? the girl shouted as he walked back down the hill.
?So what did Xare and Tark do?? Willow asked.
?He won?t tell,? Litni pouted. ?But he called her a Lady,? she added and
jogged down the other side of the hill.

-

Al?x looked around the camp the dwarves had set up. They were in a larger
cavern with watch posts set up around every exit. He and Theris were
currently occupying one.
?So how are you feeling?? he asked.
?I?m fine,? She answered. ?Banishing is never enjoyable, though,?
?We?re going to run into more of those things as we get closer, I?m fairly
sure of it,? Al?x said.
?You?re wondering where the rest of the High Elves are during this time,
aren?t you?? she asked.
?Well? yes,? he exclaimed. ?I mean you guys hold all life sacred and are
the champions of the natural order. Isn?t this one of your battles??
?There have been some?changes. After the last war we fought, we became
dreadfully reclusive. Some have begun to question our ways,? Theris
explained.
?But you?re here,? Al?x wondered.
?Yes, but I came because I sensed Joyce?s presence,? she said.
?But you stayed with us. Surely there are more like you.? Al?x asked. ?More
that want to take up the fight.?
?Well, there are some, yes. But we are not as numerous as we were before,?
Theris explained.
?You can?t tell me you lost that many in the war. I fought with a lot of
High Elves during the war four years ago,? Al?x exclaimed.
?Yes, but there have been other wars since then. Tribes have set out into
the unknown lands and not returned. Birth rates have dropped and we always
lose some every year, so few births?? Theris said in a sad voice.
?How? I mean, I thought the High Elves were near eternal. You know, a part
of nature, its defenders.?
?But we still need to procreate Al?x, all beings must. We just aren?t as
numerous as we once were,? Theris said.
?Can you take me there? To the High Elf City?? he asked. ?Don?t ask me how
I know it exists.?
?I can?t take you into the higher planes Al?x,? Theris said. ?Few humans can
journey there.?
?But there must be something the High Elves can do?? he asked.
?No, there isn?t. I?m sorry,? Theris said and placed a hand on his
shoulder.
?Then we?ll just have to go it alone, I guess. It?s not like the common
elves haven?t been fighting without your help for centuries ? Al?x said with
a reassuring smile. ?And they do have the dwarves to help out this time.?
?With you leading them, I?m sure it will all work out.? Theris said and
looked around to see if their replacements had arrived yet.

TBC.....