FIC: Militat Omnis Amans (Every Lover is a Warrior) Part 11d/?

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

Militat Omnis Amans (Every Lover is a Warrior) Part 11d/?
K. Beckett © 2000, with the exception of musical lyrics which are © the 
individual artists / labels.

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.

This story contains descriptions of sexual acts between consenting adult
women, 
and was written in a jurisdiction where it was legal to do so. If this
offends 
you, don't read.

----------------------------------
Two days later Willow's group were still working their way through the river

pass. The going had been much harder than they had expected, with the
weather 
worsening each day. There was now nearly ten centimetres of fresh snow on
the 
ground, and the overhanging steel grey skies were promising more over the
next 
few hours. They had to move slowly, due in no small part to the unstable 
footing on the slick, and partially frozen ground. The good news, if there 
could be any, was that they had not seen any signs of the demons that were 
supposed to be in the area.

"If this gets any worse," said Aiofe, who was leading the band, "we are
going to 
have to turn back."
"Can't risk being trapped up here," agreed Bridie, "we don't have enough 
supplies, or shelter."
"One more day," said Willow, who was bringing up the rear, "if we see no
sign of 
them, we head back to the cottage and then the inn."
"Excellent idea lover," commented Buffy, who was still trying to get warm, 
despite several layers of clothing and a thick down coat.

One of the other reasons that they had been delayed was their stopping at a 
number of farmsteads, which dotted the river pass. They had warned the
people 
they had met about the demon threat, and had suggested to them that they
pack up 
and head for the village, where they would be better protected, should any 
demons show up.

"I didn't thing that last family would leave," said Buffy, reflecting on the

farmers they had talked to earlier in the day, "it was like he didn't
believe 
us."
"Couldn't," offered Aiofe, "the idea is totally outside of these peoples 
experiences. They just can't believe that they could be in danger."

"They'll learn," said Willow, "especially if I can't figure out a way of
closing 
the hell-mouths."
"Well," said Bridie, trying to keep everyone focused on the task at hand,
"that 
is a problem for when we return home. At least these people were warned,
and 
will take action. There is one more farmhouse, just over this rise, which
we 
can reach today. Maybe after we pass along our news, they will let us stay 
indoors tonight, out of the snow."

"Now that is something to look forward to," agreed Willow, "just thing Buff,
a 
night in a warm bed."
"Bliss. Joy, and much happiness," replied the miserable slayer.

The prevailing wind, which had been coming up from behind them all day,
suddenly 
changed so that they were walking into it. The bitter wind began to bite
into 
their faces, causing them to stop for a moment to wrap thick scarves around 
their heads, leaving only a small gap so they could see. Buffy, with her 
enhanced senses, also noticed something else carried on the wind.

"More trouble ahead," she said, noticing the pungent stench of burnt
buildings 
and flesh, "and we won't have a place to stay tonight."
"Demons," said Willow, "I guess we've found them."
"Yep," replied the slayer, training all of her senses ahead of them, trying
to 
gain any additional information that she could.

"What do we do," asked Aiofe.
"We investigate," replied the arch-mage, "carefully."

Willow had the four of them continue to move in single file, however,
instead of 
moving beside the stream, they moved over so that they were hugging the
sides of 
the pass. She moved Buffy to the lead, and had Aiofe bring up the rear.
This 
way she knew that her best offensive weapon was in the optimum position to 
evaluate and to take action. They moved slowly, with the stench of the
burnt 
farm becoming stronger with each step. Finally, they crested the hill, to
look 
down on a scene that even Dante would have had difficulty to write about.  

The farmstead had been a large operation, with several houses, barns and 
ancillary outbuildings. Now it was all-ablaze, and there was a black, oily,

smoke rising from the buildings. The former occupants of the farm had all
been 
rounded up, and forced into one of the sheep pens. They had then been lead
one 
by one to an area near one of the barns so that they could be systematically

tortured and butchered. There had been at least thirty such deaths so far;
men, 
women and children had all received the same fate. The young women noticed
that 
there were four or five people still left alive, awaiting the same destiny
as 
the others, locked in a sheep pen watched over by six demons. The remaining

force of forty or so demons was busily involved in what appeared to be the 
consumption of the former farmers.

"I'm going to be truly sick," said Aiofe, barely able to speak even in a 
whisper.
"Sick later," commented Buffy, with ice in her voice, "many demon deaths
now."
"They're kinda overconfident aren't they," asked Willow, as she surveyed the

area, noticing that the demons had not even bothered to have sentries
posted.
"Dumb as posts," agreed the slayer, already thinking of the best way of 
approaching this particular problem.

"Suggestions," asked Willow, "whatever it is we want to work fast, before
the 
slime can get to those other people locked up in that pen."
"I have an idea," offered Buffy. She pointed out the group of demons who
were 
consuming the former farmers and said, "that group over there, are they far 
enough from the remaining humans for you to use your magic?"

Willow thought for a moment and looked over the situation before replying,
"yes, 
they're far enough away. What do you have in mind?"

"Incinerate them. That would be poetic justice, and will distract the
others 
long enough for me to get down there. Meanwhile, Aiofe and Bridie can
follow 
behind me, and free the remaining prisoners, while you stay back and remain
in 
reserve, just in case we need some major firepower."

"I like it," said Willow, "one thing though."
"Yes," asked the slayer.
"If you see a leader type," answered Willow, "save its ass. I think we will

want to bring it home, so that Grael and Amana can get some serious answers
from 
it."

"Okey, dokey," said Buffy, as she and the other two young women moved
slightly 
ahead of Willow.

Willow then began to concentrate on drawing up what energy she could before 
turning to her lover and saying, "ok loves, get running. I will unleash my 
firestorm just as you reach the edge of the barnyard. That should give you
the 
distraction you need to get in close, before any of them can notice you and 
react."

Over the last few months, Willow had continued her magical training and had 
polished her skills to an ability that she would have never previously
thought 
possible. She was going to attempt to do something that months earlier
would 
have been impossible for her, or if she believed Grael, for anyone. She
drew up 
the magical energy from around her, and instead of having to use it
immediately, 
she stored it, waiting for Buffy and the others to reach the farm. This
would 
allow her to react the instant that Buffy entered the farmyard, and into
danger.  
She watched as they approached the yard, and just as they entered it, she 
focused the energy she had collected and then yelled out, "lhome-loshtee 
jouyil." As the energy left her, centred on the targets that she had
selected, 
Willow collapsed, exhausted from her efforts. As she sat on the cold
ground, 
she thought to herself, "that should do the trick; but damn, that took more
out 
of me than I thought it would."

The results were instantaneous, and explosive. Each of the demons that
Willow 
had targeted was immediately set ablaze, each of them turning into a pillar
of 
flame. The immolated demons began to run amok, screaming in agony,
providing 
the distraction that Buffy needed so that she could close the distance to
the 
demons that were guarding the remaining farmers. As she crossed the
farmyard, 
she briefly asked the Goddess for her help; as she did so, her sword began
to 
pulsate on her chest, ready for action. Buffy reached down, grasped the
hilt of 
her sword and sighed softly as it detached from her body. Raising the sword

above her head, Buffy felt a surge, almost sexual, go through her body as it

ignited. Turning to Aiofe and Bridie she screamed, "lets kick some demon
but."


The slayer then turned towards the pen, which was holding the farmers, and 
screamed, "die, demon scum," at the demons standing directly in front of the

locked gate. Running directly at the six demons, Buffy raised her sword 
overhead, and just as she came within reach of the first of the stunned into

motionless demons, a three horned humanoid standing nearly two meters tall,
she 
slashed violently downwards, slicing deep into its neck and torso, causing
it to 
fall to the ground, body twitching as it died.  

The remaining demons that had been guarding the humans bolted. They had
already 
been spooked by the simultaneous, spontaneous immolation of their
companions.  
Now they were faced with a human waving a huge flaming sword, who apparently
was 
looking for their blood. Seeing that the remaining demons had fled, Buffy 
yelled over her shoulder, "Aiofe, Bridie, get these people out of here, and
back 
to Willow." She had known the instant that Willow had collapsed and wanted
the 
others to get back as quick as they could, to provide protection to her soul

mate.

"Will do," replied Aiofe, as she and Bridie headed over to where the farmers
had 
been penned and began to work on the gate's lock. Within minutes, they had
the 
door open and had collected the remaining prisoners. They immediately left
the 
farm, heading back to the arch-mage.

Buffy looked around, there were two demons heading away from her, towards
the 
river and therefore totally out of immediate concern, and three heading
towards 
the area in front of the barns where the farmers had been tortured and
killed.  
Buffy could see that where they were heading was another farmer, bound to a 
post, and a human like demon who had been busy torturing him. Thinking to 
herself, "looks like they're running to the boss," she took up the chase.  

Hugh had been spending his time, very unproductively he thought, trying to 
extract information from peasants who had none to give. He had continued
with 
the torture and executions primarily to keep his troops happy, and to
satisfy 
his own desire to lash out at something, or someone, for all the
inconvenience 
and trouble he had been through in the last five months. He had almost 
completed his questioning of one of the last farmers when all hell broke
loose.  
Hearing the screams of his troops, he turned away from his victim, to see
over 
forty pillars of flame, pillars that used to be his troops.

"Gods above," he whispered aloud, "what is going on here?" At that point he
saw 
three more of his men, men who were supposed to be guarding the remaining 
prisoners, running towards him.

"Master," the one in the lead screamed, "we have been set upon by humans."
"What are you yelling about," Hugh yelled at the trooper, just as he saw the

object of their fear, "never mind, I see her," he continued as he watched
the 
slayer walk purposefully towards them, her flaming sword carried at an easy
rest 
beside her.

"Attack her you fools," he yelled at the three terrified demons, "get her
before 
she can get here, and get at me."

The demons reluctantly followed their orders, they were bound and had no
choice 
in the matter. They cautiously moved towards the slayer, trying to surround
her 
on three sides. Buffy was far too experienced to be fooled by any manoeuvre

that these demons would try. Seeing the attempt to flank her, she suddenly 
leaped towards her right, and kicked her opponent to the ground. She then 
slashed at the downed demon, decapitating him. She then ran back, towards
the 
demon who had been trying to flank her on the left, and slashed across her 
waist, disembowelling the startled demon, who had not even had a chance to
react 
to the death of his companion. The third demon, a green-blue scaled beast,
took 
the opportunity to slash Buffy across her back, ripping through her armour
and 
opening up a twenty-centimetre gash over her shoulder. Buffy internalised
the 
pain, starting her enhanced healing process, as she turned around saying, 
"you're going to die for that. Real slow."
She attacked, her sword weightless, and she used it to whittle away at the 
demon. He was unable to block her attacks, or counterattack in any way, and

soon was bleeding from numerous cuts. With each successive cut, he became 
weaker, until he collapsed to the ground, barely able to breath. Buffy
leaned 
over the demon, spat on him and said, "that is better than you deserve for 
attacking innocents."

Buffy stopped for a moment to collect her breath. Her attack on the three 
demons had taken less than five minutes, and it had been less than ten since

Willow's spell, but Buffy was nearly spent. The stress of the battle,
coupled 
with the blood loss from the demon's attack was beginning to have its effect
on 
the slayer. Her healing ability had partially closed the wound in her back,
and 
had slowed the bleeding, but the wound was still having a debilitating
effect on 
her. She needed to finish this, and soon, so that she could rest and regain

some energy.

"One more," she thought to herself, "but this one we want alive."

Hugh had had enough, all of his troops were dead, the majority smoking
blackened 
corpses; he backed away and then turned and ran. He didn't get far. Buffy
had 
noticed his attempt to escape and yelled out, "greimmey jouyil," resulting
in 
Hugh coming to a complete stop as if his feet were bound to the ground.

Buffy slowly walked over to the post where the farmer was bound and
carefully 
untied him saying, "its ok, you're safe now." She continued to reassure the

weeping man, holding him in her arms, until Willow, Aiofe, Bridie and the 
remaining farmers approached.

"Now what," asked Buffy, drained, but not surprised to see Willow and the 
others.
"Now we bandage that cut on your shoulder," replied her lover, who had 
immediately left for the battle the instant she had felt Buffy's injury,
"and 
get moving back to the cottage."
"What about statue boy over here," asked Aiofe, "what do we do with him?"

Willow walked over to the frozen leader and commented quietly, "I've seen
this 
one before. I can't remember where, but somewhere." Turning to Aiofe and 
Bridie she said, "tie a rope to him and drag him behind us. I don't really
care 
if he gets a bit bruised. Maybe if he is a bit battered it will be easier
for 
Aiofe and Grael to get some information out of him."

Hugh paled at that information. He knew that it was unlikely for the witch
or 
the slayer to recognize him, however, once Grael saw him, his goose was
truly 
cooked. He began to think of ways to escape, maybe by sweet talking one of
the 
farmers. That hope was dashed when Willow turned to Bridie and said, "gag
him.  
We don't know if he's a mage or not. Beside we don't want him talking to
anyone 
before we get back to the village."

Everyone then made immediate preparations to leave. First they gathered
what 
human remains they could, and after saying the appropriate prayers to the 
Goddess, placed them on a hastily built funeral pyre, and lit it; commending
the 
bodies to the elements, while the souls went on to the next life, in 
anticipation of rebirth.

They then left the battlefield, knowing that the greater the distance they
got 
from the farm, the less likely they would be followed. However, Willow did
one 
more thing before leaving. Summoning up what little reserves she had, she 
reduced the demon corpses to their component dust, and watched with
satisfaction 
as the dust scattered in the breeze.

----------------------------------
Three days later Junulak and Talor, along with their force of fifty demons 
cautiously approached the burnt out farmstead. The two demons that had
escaped 
Willow and Buffy's attack had travelled non-stop to find the other leaders
and 
apprise them of what had happened. Junulak had immediately broken off the 
impending attack on the village he was surrounding and had set out on a
forced 
march to where Hugh had been attacked. Both of the leaders looked out over
the 
still smoking runes. They could see where Hugh had conducted his 
interrogations, and where the funeral pyre was. However, they could find no

signs of Hugh, his army, or their corpses. It was if they had vanished into
the 
mist.

"This bothers me," said Talor, "where are the bodies. Where are the
humans?"
"Gone," replied Junulak succinctly, "that witch must have done something
with 
them."
"But what," asked the imp.
"Don't know. But whatever it is, I have no desire to find out about it."
"What do you mean?"
"That's it," replied Junulak, "I'm for the hills, our master be dammed. I'm
not 
going after that witch, and the slayer, with only fifty men. Its obvious
that 
they are too powerful, and that the slayer has built her support group. He
can 
try to dig me out of these mountains, or go after her himself, but I know
what 
my fate will be if I bring back any news of failure."

All of the remaining demons shared the convictions of their leader, and they

swiftly departed, breaking into small groups of two or three to find
secluded 
homes deep in the mountains.

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That same morning Willow and the others made their way into the village.
They 
had made excellent time back to the cottage, due to an improvement in the 
weather, and a desire to move as quickly as possible. They had not wasted
much 
time at the cottage. They had packed up their possessions, including
Willow's 
familiar, which had been left in the cottage. Everyone had taken the 
opportunity for a bath and a hot meal before immediately heading back to the

inn.

They made an immediate impression as they entered the common room of the
inn.  
Although they were clean, they were haggard, the former farmers even more
so, 
from the three days of forced travel. They dropped their bags just inside
the 
door as Willow called out, "hey all, we're back."

Grael, Amana and the others came out to greet their companions. They
stopped 
short as they watched Buffy pickup from the floor, and stand up a humanoid 
captive, who apparently was immobile as well as gagged.

Grael immediately recognized the prisoner. Moving rapidly through the
crowd, he 
stood in front of the demon and said, venom dripping from every word, "Hugh 
d'Troville, if that is even your real name. How nice to see you again. I
just 
bet you would rather be anywhere but here."

----------------------------------
Finis part XI

To be continued...