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

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

Militat Omnis Amans (Every Lover is a Warrior) Part 11a/?
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.

Rating: 
R

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.: 
On "Stake and Chakram Library"
http://members.spree.com/entertainment/kerrison29
Which is maintained by Bill LaBarbera - Please go and visit, he has a large 
collection of fanfic.
Anyone else, just ask and I will say yes.

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

Thanks to all who have commented, I appreciate everything that was said. As

before, all meaningful criticism, support and suggestions are welcome. 
Please be patient, it takes me awhile to get everything down, as I have very

little free time for writing.

Please note that things perceived by characters other than by the five 
acknowledged senses have been enclosed in < >.

mailto:kb_writer@xxxxxxxxxxx	

----------------------------------
A priori:

Willow and Buffy have been married in a ceremony that was watched by the
entire 
community of the village that they've taken refuge in. The new arrivals to 
Willow's strike force, one of whom is an identical twin of the slayer, have 
settled in and have been given both a home and jobs. Amana has arranged for
the 
newlyweds to have use of a small cottage, a short distance from the village,
in 
order for them to have some time to relax and to recharge their batteries.  
However, it appears that the demon force that is searching the mountains for

them has begun to step up their efforts.

Synopsis for part XI:

The newlywed's honeymoon will be cut short as they head to the northern
passes 
to check on reported demon activity. Amana, Grael, Frankel and Daithi who
have 
been left in charge during Willow's absence will discover something
interesting 
about Sonya and the rest of the new arrivals. The demons that have been 
scouring the mountains in search of Willow's strike force will come ever
closer 
to their goal.

----------------------------------
Part XI - Gaudeamus Igitur, Iuvenes Dum Sumus (Let us therefore rejoice,
while 
we are young)

When you feel all alone  
And the world has turned its back on you  
Give me a moment please to tame your wild wild heart  
I know you feel like the walls are closing in on you  
It's hard to find relief and people can be so cold  
When darkness is upon your door and you feel like  
you can't take anymore  
 
Let me be the one you call  
If you jump I'll break your fall  
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night  
If you need to fall apart  
I can mend a broken heart  
If you need to crash then crash and burn  
You're not alone

crash and burn
Savage Garden, Affirmation
© 1999, Sony Music Entertainment Inc.

Buffy sighed deeply. The afternoon sun was, for once this summer, very warm
and 
she had taken advantage of the good weather by lying on a blanket, stark
naked, 
eyes closed, soaking up the rays. "Got to get working on my tan," she
thought 
to herself, "I'm beginning to look like an alabaster sculpture."
"A pregnant sculpture at that," added Willow, as she came out of the cottage

carrying a tray with a pitcher of ice-tea along with two glasses.
<Reading my mind again?>
<Yep, forgive me?> 
<Always.>  
Willow suddenly had an impish thought. Leaning over her lover, she began to

dribble the ice-tea over Buffy's expanding abdomen.  
Buffy squealed in surprise as the cold liquid touched her heated skin.
"Red, 
you're a witch!"

"Guilty as charged," replied Willow, as she placed the tray on the ground
before 
joining Buffy on the blanket, "I'm so happy I just couldn't resist."

"If you are so happy then pour me a drink," said Buffy as she sat up,
slowly, 
"Umph, this is getting to be a bit more difficult."

"I know," replied Willow, as she poured each of them a glass of tea, before 
lying back, resting her glass on her belly and saying, "I look like a
beached 
whale."
Buffy leaned over and lightly kissed Willow's tummy before replying, "a 
beautiful beached whale."

Both women were now into their twenty-fourth week of pregnancy, and thanks
to a 
combination of good diet and a daily exercise routine were feeling very 
comfortable at this stage of their gravidity. Amana had told them, that
once 
they hit the third trimester, in two or three weeks, they would begin to
feel 
more uncomfortable as their babies grew and began to run out of room.  

"I'm not beautiful," replied the arch-mage, "I'm bloated."
"Not true. I happen to think that you are the most beautiful preggo, this
side 
of the mountain."
"Aside from you," retorted Willow, "I'm the only preggo this side of the 
mountain, so that's not saying much, now is it."
"Well, I happen to think you're beautiful. Besides, you're forgetting Aiofe
and 
Bridie."

"Then I thank-you for your astute observational sense," replied Willow, as
she 
drew down her lover for another kiss, "I happen to think that you are quite 
radiant yourself. And they don't really count yet since they are not even a

month along."

"Its unanimous then," replied the slayer, "we're both beautiful, since we
both 
think that way, and, after all, our opinions are the only ones that counts."

Both women returned to their sunbathing, enjoying their rest in the relaxing

sunshine. The sun, along with the fact that there was absolutely nothing
that 
they had to do before getting their dinner ready, put the two of them into a

peaceful frame of mind.

"I'm going to miss this," said Buffy.
"So am I," replied her lover, "one more week, then back to the millstone."

They were thoroughly enjoying their honeymoon. They had had the opportunity
to 
sleep, relax and enjoy each other's company, without any pressures on their 
time. This had resulted in their being totally comfortable and relaxed for
the 
first time since they had arrived on this world, perhaps since even earlier.

"The twins are certainly happy with the sun," commented Buffy, as she felt
her 
baby moving once again, "or maybe its just because we are so relaxed."
"Whatever," replied Willow, "I'm just glad we finally recognized the
movement 
for what it was, I was beginning to worry a little bit."

Both women had begun to feel their babies' movement shortly after starting
their 
honeymoon. They had gone through a period of alerting each other as soon as

they felt the movement, only to notice that both babies seemed to be moving
at 
the same time. They attributed this particular oddity to just one more
strange 
thing about their pregnancies.

"This 'gift' of Amana's was perfect," commented Buffy, as she watched puffy 
white clouds drift lazily across the sky.
"No kidding," replied Willow, "I've not felt this relaxed in a long time.  
Besides our little hideaway is just perfect."

The cottage that Amana had arranged for them was a sheepherder's summer
cottage, 
temporarily vacated for the occasion, which had been built more than eighty 
years earlier. It was located to the north of the village, and was near the

high summer pastures that the villagers used for their sheep. A small
stream 
ran on the far side of the dooryard, about thirty meters away, providing a 
source of fresh, cold, clean water. It had a large vegetable garden, which 
provided fresh herbs and produce, along with several ornamental gardens, 
providing homes for the countless butterflies and songbirds. The house
itself 
had three-foot thick masonry walls, covered in climbing ivy, and a slate
roof; 
these were more than capable of keeping out the rain, sleet and the cold.
This 
was fortunate, since the weather had been miserable for the last two weeks,
with 
rain and sleet heralding the imminent end of the short summer season in the
high 
mountains. Not that the newlyweds had really noticed the weather, having
spent 
a good portion of their time in the cottage, in bed.  

The cottage only had three rooms; a very large and comfortable bedroom, an 
equally large bathroom and an enormous common room that functioned as
kitchen, 
dining room, living room and study. Each room had several large windows, 
providing the primary source of light. In addition, there was a fireplace
in 
each room, which provided heat and a secondary source of illumination.
Their 
honeymoon home was also fully furnished; with furnishings that were both 
comfortable and practical.  

In order to keep them in provisions, every couple of days Aiofe and Bridie
had 
visited to deliver fresh food, in addition to keeping them apprised of any 
pressing news back in the village. Luckily, so far, there had been no
problems 
that would require the attention of either the slayer or the arch-mage.

"Now doesn't that look too good for words," said Aiofe, as she and Bridie 
approached the two drowsy women on the ground, both of them carrying two
bundles 
in addition to a backpack.
"I'm sure that if there were words," replied Willow dryly, "that you would
be 
the one to find them."
"Now is that any way to speak to the people bringing your dinner," asked
Bridie 
as the two new arrivals placed their bundles on the ground.

"What's all that," asked Buffy, noticing that there were six very large
bundles 
on the ground, "I don't think that we could eat all of that in two days, 
pregnant or not."
"Its for the week," replied Aiofe.
"Come again," asked Willow, just a little confused and beginning to get a
little 
worried.
"Not only that," added Bridie, "its also for the four of us."
"What happened to aloneness," asked Buffy, also becoming a bit worried about

this sudden change in plans.

"Its like this," replied Bridie, "Daithi received some troubling news
yesterday, 
and Grael and Amana decided that it would be prudent if Aiofe and I resumed
our 
bodyguard duties."
"Not that I mind the way that you two guard our bodies, but, spill the
details," 
ordered Willow, changing from relaxed young woman to war leader in a
heartbeat, 
"just what was the news?"

Aiofe and Bridie then related the news that had come into the village on the

previous day. A small band of travellers had arrived with tales of a demon
army 
that was working its way through the area, burning out the villages, and 
torturing, interrogating and massacring the inhabitants. The refugees had 
indicated that they were from a village no more than thirty kilometres away,
and 
that the demons appeared to be looking for a small group of mages and
warriors.  
Grael and Amana had immediately come to the conclusion that Willow's strike 
force was the group that the demons were looking for; it appeared that the
army 
they had eluded months earlier had finally come closer to finding them.

"No more running," Willow said, the steel in her voice able to cut the
tension 
that had sprung up, and, agreeing with Amana and Grael's assessment of the 
intentions of the demon army, continued, "whatever happens, we will not be 
driven out of this valley alive."
"I agree," added the slayer, "we've made a home here, besides we won't have
time 
to find somewhere else before winter."

"Well then," said Bridie, "you'll be happy to know that everyone else agrees

with you."

"Now," added Buffy, "just why are the two of you here, and why are we not
all 
heading back to town?"

"Daithi and Grael have asked Aiofe and I to take a look around this area," 
replied Bridie, "and since there has been no real confirmation of the demon 
threat, Amana indicated that you two should stay here and continue to enjoy
your 
honeymoon."
"We brought our camping stuff," added Aiofe, "so we will not be a bother to
you.  
We'll just camp out here."
"Not on your life," retorted Willow, "you two will stay in the cottage with
us.  
Furthermore, there is no way that you are going to stop me, let alone Buffy,

from going along to help you look for these demons."
"But..." said Aiofe, "you are supposed to be on your vacation."
"No buts," replied Willow, the steel in her voice now reflected in her eyes.

"Well," replied Buffy, after a moments pause, "now that that is settled,
lets 
see about getting you two settled in."

The four women proceeded to collect the various packages that were on the
ground 
and went into the cottage to unpack. Once Aiofe and Bridie had unpacked,
Willow 
noticed that the weather had turned for the worse. Thick black clouds had 
rolled in over the mountains, with a major summer storm threatening to break
at 
any moment.

"Well there goes the nice weather," lamented Willow, looking out of the
large 
windows in the common room, "summer was nice while it lasted."
"This sucks," agreed Buffy, "we get one nice day, and the sun only stays
around 
for a couple of hours."

Suddenly the sky blackened even further as a tremendous electrical storm
struck 
the valley. Massive chains of lightning lit the sky, followed by the rumble
of 
thunder, shaking the mountains and the foundations of the cottage. The 
temperature plummeted with the arrival of the storm, where it had been in
the 
high twenties it was now in the low teens and falling fast.

"This is nuts," commented Buffy, "I was nice and comfy, broiling in the sun,
now 
I'm freezing." She left the common room, where they had been all watching
the 
storm, and went to the bedroom to get dressed in warm clothing. Returning a
few 
minutes later she saw that Willow was still standing at the window with the 
others, naked, transfixed by the storm.

"This is great," gushed Willow, "I just love these storms. Mother Nature at
her 
most elemental."
"Well lover," responded Buffy, noticing that her lover was beginning to turn

blue with cold, "if we don't get some warm clothes on you soon you are going
to 
catch your death of cold."

"Party pooper," complained Willow, as Buffy picked her up and carried her
back 
into the bedroom to get dressed. Meanwhile, Aiofe and Bridie took that as a

sign and busied themselves by building up the fires, to bring the ambient 
temperature in the cottage back to something approaching normal.

After making the cottage a bit more comfortable, and doing what little
tidying 
needed to be done, the four young women then set to making themselves a
hearty 
stew for dinner. Since the weather precluded any further activities
outdoors, 
after dinner they sat before the fire discussing life, and their plans for
the 
next few days.

"So," asked Buffy, "what 'suggestions', did Daithi offer?"
"Well," replied Bridie, "both he and Grael suggested that we look to the
north.  
Apparently there are some passes with small rivers in them which could allow
an 
army an easy route to our little valley."
"They also indicated that there was another large valley to the north, that
has 
a small hamlet in it," added Aiofe, "which could be used as a staging site
for 
an army."
"How far away is this valley," asked Willow.
"About two days," replied Aiofe.

"I still don't like the idea of the two of you coming along," said Bridie,
"its 
supposed to be your honeymoon, not work time."
"That's been settled," said the arch-mage, "we're going. Besides there is
no 
confirmed threat, so it won't really be work, it's more like a road trip.
Only 
on foot."
"What's more," added Buffy, "with the pregnancies and winter and all, its 
probably the last chance we'll get to see some of the surrounding area."

"Ok then, that's settled," said Willow. "I suggest that we head out tomorrow

morning, check out the passes and then double back checking the other valley
on 
the way."
"Take what," asked Buffy, "three, maybe four days."
"Way I figure it," agreed the arch-mage, "that way we could still have a
couple 
days here to relax before heading back to the village, the inn and our real
work 
of finding a permanent solution to this demon problem."

The four young women spent the evening in conversation, with the topics
ranging 
from serious discussions on magic, slaying and the demon war to less weighty

concerns about baby names and favourite foods.

"Chocolate, I'm dying for some chocolate," said Willow at one point, "I
can't 
believe that no one on this world was able to figure out what to do with the

cocoa plant and invent chocolate. Now it's too late, what with the crappy 
weather and this little demon problem we're having."

As if to highlight the weather problems, just then there was a massive flash
of 
light right outside of the cottage, followed immediately by the crack of 
thunder.

"That was close," commented Aiofe.
"Too close," agreed Bridie, "I think that it was right outside of the door."

Willow's eyes glazed over for a moment after which she said, "Shadow-cat is
very 
not-happy. She's right outside and wants to get in."
"I'll get it," said Buffy, as she stood up to go to the door. Once she had 
opened it, a black and grey streak shot into the room, heading for Willow
and 
the fire. She stopped in front of the fireplace and began to shake the
water 
out of her fur, in the process splattering everyone.

"Shadow-Cat," scolded Willow gently, "stop that."
"Merrow," replied the cat indignantly, after which she proceeded to curl up 
before the fire, grooming the remainder of the water out of her fur.

"That is one unhappy puddy tat," commented Buffy, "what's she thinking
about?"
"Oh," replied Willow, with a little smile, "she is happier now, but I think
that 
she's going to be sticking closer to home for the next little while. No
more 
roaming the heath for her."
"What about when we head out to search the surrounding area," asked Aiofe,
"what 
will you do about her?" 
"She'll be fine here," answered Willow, "We'll leave a window open so she
can 
get out and hunt. There is plenty of fresh water nearby. If we need to,
she'll 
know where I am, so she can find us."

"Sounds good," said Buffy, "why don't we all head off to bed, so we can get
an 
early start tomorrow."