FF: Two Worlds (Chapter 40: Worlds' Dilemma - Ranger's Flight)

["Cilia" <cilia@xxxxx>]

-Two Worlds-
Cilia

Chapter 40: Worlds' Dilemma - Ranger's Flight

Cordelia dressed hurriedly after Joyce's visit. She needed to get out of the
city, away from the noise and away from Buffy. She needed to get back into
her forest and sort her mind, but, she thought sadly, her forest was an
ocean away.
"Going somewhere, luv?" came a voice from behind her, making her
jump, which in turned caused her leg to miss a pant leg, which then caused
her to end up in a pile on the floor. She looked up to see a male
silhouetted in the doorframe with his arms folded over his chest. Spike, for
only an undying could sneak up on a Ranger.
"Oh not you too," she sighed as she stood, finished dressing and
planted herself heavily on the bed.
"I came to tell you that I'm leaving the realm..." he explained as
he sat down next to her. "After I see Buffy safely back to the Land of
Elves, pfft, I'm going back home."
"I can't go back, Spike... I'm bound to this realm now," Cordelia
answered.
"Uh, sorry luv, but I wasn't offering. I came to give you some
advice. First off, you best set things straight with Elisabeth before I
leave and second I want you to take care of her when I'm gone," he said.
"But... what about Willow? There's still a chance, now that Joyce is
back and all..."
"You really think Willow will just forgive-and-forget about you and
Buffy? I know Red, she might be the nicest bloody person in the world, but
she's still very, very human," he explained.
"So even if Willow finds her way back, there's still a chance she
might not want to return to me," was said from the door. "Is that what you
are saying, Spike?"
"I'm only speaking my mind, Slayer. Do I have to remind you that
this mess is all your doing," he said and stood. "Talk it out," he ordered
as he brushed past the Slayer. "Oh, and you dropped this," he said as he
casually tossed a gold ring to the Slayer, which she caught. There was long
silence as Buffy stared down at the repaired ring while Cordelia stared at
Buffy.
"So..." Buffy said as she looked up and wiggled the ring back onto
her finger.
"So..." Cordelia said and looked down at her own hands.
"Mom thinks she can... put things right, but... ah, we kinda-"
"Screwed up by screwing around," Cordelia finished with a weak
smile.
"Pretty much, yeah. So where to we go from here," Buffy asked as she
sat down next the Ranger.
"Your mom thinks that the only reason I... slept... with you... is
because you're the Slayer," Cordelia said as Buffy took her hand in hers.
"Hey, I may be a little rusty, but last time I checked, sex was two
way thing," the Slayer said with a smile.
"But you're still married and I'm still the consort to Stjar'a,"
Cordelia stated, raising their grasped hands to point out the wedding band.
"So you're just going to leave?" Buffy asked.
"No, I will stay with you until the little one is born, or until
Willow returns. You won't get rid of me that easily," the Ranger answered
with a small smile.
"What about last night?" the Slayer asked squeezing the Ranger's
hand.
"Elisabeth. last night was... well, it was incredible, but I think
before we go there again, we should see what your mom is planning," the
Ranger said slowly.
"And if it fails?" Buffy asked her eyes twinkling with unspoken
promises.
"Then we'll see. I still love Stjar'a dearly, but it's like."
"No matter how hard you try to forget, it remains. yeah, I know the
feeling," the Slayer nodded.
"I have to go," Cordelia said and stood, "but I will return
tonight,"
"We'll be at the reflecting pool in the Mage Guild gardens at
midnight," Buffy said as she kissed the Ranger's cheek.
"I..." Cordelia started, but she couldn't say the words.
"I know," Buffy said as she her kissed again, now on the lips. "I
know, Moondancer," she said. Cordelia started walking away not letting go of
Buffy's hand until the last moment and then she was gone, running down the
stairs and out the doors.

Walking out of the city, she could sense nothing but the constant hum of
nature around her. The sounds of the city faded behind her and soon she was
alone, not in a forest, but in a wheat field. Sitting down the middle of the
field with the pen and journal she had brought with her to the realm on
Willow's urging not so many months ago, she opened the book to the first
empty page. Placing the tip of the pen on the paper, she began...

The Journal of Ranger Knight Cordelia Moondancer

I'm trying to figure out just how I got into this awful mess originally.
Gods only know that I never intended to become so close with Buff- Elisabeth
that I actually slept with her. Still, what's done is done, there's no going
back.

So much has changed over the course of the last year or so. I've grown up a
lot, I think. I found love. only to be distanced from it by ceremony, honor
and my own foolish wanting. I still don't understand fully how I became the
being I am today, and perhaps I never will. Still, a part of me feels-

Looking up from the book into the curious face of Ziel, the half-elf
priestess, she quickly closed the book.
"Da' Avatar sent me to find ya," the priestess said as she sat down
next to the Ranger.
"Are you going to give me a lecture, too?" Cordelia asked with a
sigh.
"No, I just came here... to talk to ya and listen," Ziel answered.
"I see. So... did you find you're heritage yet?" Cordelia asked
opening the journal again.
"No, and I will not search any further," Ziel answered.
"How come? You said the whole reason for coming here with us was to
find out more about yourself?" the Ranger pointed out.
"I came with ya to observe heroes, I now understand that is not my
calling," the priestess explained.
"So what are you going to do now?" Cordelia asked.
"Return home to the Halls and fight the war," Ziel answered.
"Simple and to the point, " she said with a bob of her head, "I wish
my life was like that," Cordelia sighed.
"It can be," Ziel confirmed and stood.
"You're leaving already?" Cordelia asked.
"I've told you what you need to hear, the book will listen," Ziel
said as she disappeared into the field.
"Weird," Cordelia muttered and turned her eyes back to the journal.

Perhaps I should take the simple road, go find my strengths as Ziel
suggested. But I will not leave Buffy. I care too much about her to leave
her and if Willow returns.well, it will all be just a memory of one
incredible night spent with her. Will it have been worth it? I had her as
mine for a single blissful night and I was hers. There was no pain there for
either of us, so in that respect, I've done my duty.
- Ranger Knight Cordelia Moondancer

To be continued in Worlds' Dilemma - Rosetta's Heart