Hello everybody, Well more Two Worlds from my brain to your screen, with a short stop at brndn's in between. As you read and then the next chapter I want you to say to yourselves, Trust Cilia, for Cilia will make it better, Later all, Cilia -Two Worlds- Cilia Chapter 35: Storms We set out across the Great Sea aboard the Dove, the ship we were able to charter in the city of Altran. It seemed that a lot of people where eager to help beings with reputations such as ours. Well, that and the substantial amount of gold we had to offer ensured that getting passage would be easier than we thought. I don't think any of us were comfortable about taking the payment from Piratess for our services during the Battle of Necris except, of course, for Grimm, but we knew we would need the money. And now we were on our way. It was on that voyage, however, when things changed between some of us... - From the writings of Lady Cordelia Moondancer. Dear Diary, Hello again... We're on the... seventh day, I think it is... of our thirty day crossing. So far, the winds have really been in our favor, it seems that bringing Ziel and Cordelia along helped earn some points with the gods. Uh, oh... I'll be right back! Eww... me, Gymli and Grimm have all been seasick, me the worst. Doesn't it figure! The others were only sick for the first few days but im still going strong. Oh, this is so not fun. You know, its kinda weird, but, I havent thought about Willow that much. Maybe I'm just too busy emptying my stomach into the sea to wonder about it. Great! Thinking about internal organs really helps. Cordy has been real sweet to me, holding my hair when I throw up then cleaning me up and dragging my sorry ass back to my cabin. I guess it's her new, 'I care about all beings' motive she's had going for her since the battle. I find myself looking at her sometimes, wondering why the hell she left Stjar'a. The real reasons, I mean, not the excuses she's been giving us. - Elisabeth It was on our journey across the sea that some things became evident to me. First of all, I was a damn lucky man. And also, that I was a bloody stupid man. There I was, on a boat, in the middle of the sea, a whole world away from the woman I loved, and my responsibilities. I had left if all behind to come here and help a one-time enemy. What was I thinking? I was thinking that I was here to help a one-time enemy that had become a dear friend. She was into her second month while on that bloody ship and I knew that it would all have to be over soon, being on the road was no place for a pregnant woman. I think Cordelia understood that best of all. She did her best to make the journey comfortable for Elisabeth and her unborn child, but, still, I sensed something about the two... something that would have lasting consequences for everybody involved. - From the memoirs of William Blood Buffy staggered back into her cabin, supported by Cordelia, who seemed to at her side day and night, making sure she ate, drank and slept. "Why are you... being so nice to me?" Buffy asked as the Ranger made her lie down on the cot. "Someone has to take care of you," Cordelia answered with a small smile as she placed a cup to the Slayer's lips. "And I volunteered." Buffy made a face, as she smelled the contents, "What is this?" "Just some herbs I picked up in Altran... they'll help you sleep," Cordelia explained. "Now drink." "No, I... I have to stay awake," the slayer stated. Cordelia sighed as she decided it was time the Slayer got a dose of reality. "Buffy Anne Summers! Will you stop this self-recrimination, there was nothing you could have done and there was nothing I could have done. There is nothing anyone could have done and dwelling on it will only make it worse. If you won't drink this for you, then at least do it for the child," she exclaimed and watched as the Slayer's face sank "You... d-didn't have to..." Buffy sobbed. "Buffy... I'm sorry, but you needed to hear that," the Ranger explained as she placed the cup on the table next to the cot and turned to leave. "D-don't... go, please" Buffy said as she grabbed her arm. "I... I've been alone for the past two weeks and... I don't..." she trailed off, trying and failing to hold back her tears. "You're not alone, Buffy. I'm here, and so is Spike. We're your friends, we have been now for a long time, and we always will be" Cordelia said as she sat down on the cot and tucked her friend in. "Now, at least try to get some sleep, please." She whispered as she gently tucked a blonde hair behind an ear. "I'm cold in... the night and... I'm lonely.... It's been so long now... since I felt like this... and it scares me, Cordy, it scares me like hell," Buffy said in a shivering voice. "I have these... dreams... always... the same ones... Willow's in them or... I think it's Willow... she's walking away from me and... and then I see the graves of everybody that died and... and... Cordy? What... why are you getting under..." "Sshh!" Cordelia said in a soft voice as she slid under the sheets. "You need to sleep without nightmares for at least one night. I'll carry the burden for you and chase the ghosts away." "You... you can do that?" Buffy asked her voice still shaking. "I guess we'll find out," Cordelia said as she settled her head on the corner of the pillow. "Now sleep, Buffy." There was a long silence as they just lay there, breathing and feeling the gentle rocking of the ship. Cordelia rubbed the Slayers shoulder in front of her as she listened to, and felt the sobs slowly stop. "Cordy?" Buffy asked. "Yes, Buffy," Cordelia answered. "Call me Elisabeth," the Slayer said with a smile. "Yes, Elisabeth," The Ranger said with a grin in her voice. "Thank you... for being here," Buffy said as she grasped the Ranger's hand in hers. "It's the least I can do," Cordelia said as she gently squeezed her hand. In the Kingdom of Tharon, on the other side of the Great Sea, a red haired girl woke up screaming. The screams echoed throughout the corridors of her tower. It had been a horrible dream, one of battles and blood, death and destruction. The terrible images still danced in her mind as she sat up and swung her feet to the floor. The blond girl, kissing her on the eve of a battle, and the sound of crashing stones all around her. Then came the pain, again. She quickly got dressed and stormed through the tower to her study. There she found the remains of the tattered robes she had been found in. With a glance, the fires in the hearth flared to life. As she hugged the red robes to her chest, she looked down at her finger, at the single gold band shimmering in the firelight. She dropped the robes and pulled at the ring, tearing it off. Looking at the bundle of clothes, she placed the ring on top of it and then threw it into the hearth. "I am dead," she said in a low voice as she watched her past burn. Stalking back through the corridors, she past a handmaid returning from the kitchen. The maiden, young, beautiful and so full of life, gave her long and lustful look as they passed and something flared within the redhead. She was well aware of her own physical and aural appearance and how it affected those around her. The maiden had expressed her interests earlier, but the red haired girl hadn't been interested. But now... now she was free from the past. The redhead stopped, and with a thought, the other girl was back in front of her. She grabbed the maiden and pushed her against the wall. The look in the young maidens eyes was a mixture of fear and lust as the girl proceeded to ravish her in the corridor before leading her to her quarters. The heavy wooden door closed behind them with a thud. To be continued....
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