-Two Worlds II- (Chapter One: The Return)

["Cilia" <cilia@xxxxx>]

Title: Two Worlds II: The Heart of Darkness
Series: Royalty
Book: 4
Chapter One: The Return
Author: Cilia
Author's e-mail: cilia@xxxxx
Pairings: Not telling yet!
Distribution and Archiving: List archivers and anybody else who has my stuff
can go ahead. Other's please tell me if you chose to archive this.
Disclairment: Joss owns some and I own some. But hey I think I write better
then he so he can just pucker up and kiss it for all I care.

Note: Done without a beta, the beta version will be posted on my website
www.mmedia.is/~cilia once my beta returns from real life.

Summary: Nine years have past in the Old Realm since the deperture of
General Elisabeth Anne Summers after the Battle for Necirs and the following
Search for Willow. Now Willow Summers, her wife and Leader the Alliance
Council must bridge the gap between the worlds to seek out her out, the
darkness is rising and the Last Hero of Necris is needed now more then ever.
So the final story in Royalty Epic begins.


-Two Worlds II: The Heart of Darkness-
Cilia

Chapter One: The Return

Elisabeth Anne Rosenberg-Summers sat on the floor in her study at the Blood
Mansion and played with her now fifteen-month-old daughter, June Xare
Summers. Single parenting hadn?t turned out to be that bad, mainly thanks to
Luna and Auntie June, since both women had refused to let her fall into her
'pit of self-pity'. It still hurt sometimes though, especially late at night
when she would wake up and seek out Willow?s presence, only to realize that
she wasn?t there. Then to top it all off Spike wasn?t much help to anybody,
usually he would be the one to pull her up from whatever deep blue funk she
was in, but now he just went about his business and took care of little
Joyce. She didn't really blame him though.
?Elisabeth dear, Miss Spencer is asking for you?? Auntie June said from the
doorway with a smile at the sight of one of her adopted children, as she
called them, looking so happy and at peace with her own child. Auntie June,
or Jillian, had never been blessed with children herself, so she took great
delight in assisting Elisabeth in taking care of her daugther and she felt
like a grandmother towards the child.
?Show her in,? Elisabeth said absentmindedly as she crawled after her
daughter.
?Of course, should I alert Master William?? the housemaid asked.
?No leave him be,? the young mother said. ?But make sure he eats,? she
added, the faithful maid nodded and left.
The Slayer?s eyes drifted across the room, two ornamental swords adorned the
wall the held the fireplace, a bookcase dominated the entire wall opposite
it and overstuffed leather chairs dotted the floor space along with the
circular stair that lead up to the second floor that held even more books.
This looks likes Giles's place, she thought.
?Ahh? how sweet,? was cooed from the doorway some moments later. Elisabeth
looked up with a smile, in the doorway stood Faith Spencer wearing what
could only be could described a respectable dark suit with her brown hair
arranged into bun at the top of her head.
?Faith,? she greeted. ?This is business then?? she asked with raised
eyebrow.
?G-man left,? the dark haired woman sighed and planted herself in one of
the studies many chairs. Looking up from the floor, Elisabeth picked up her
daughter and went to sit down next to her sister and friend.
?Did he say why?? she asked as Faith wiggled a finger at June and watched
the infant grab it.
?Something about that there being a need for the freaking Nightblade?
again! I thought he had quit. I mean he?s too old to go running around
wielding that damn sword,? Faith answered. The elder Slayer chuckled and her
sister?s worries. Faith was now closer to Giles then she was in more ways
then one. Granted Giles still came around and was grandpa to June, but they?
d didn?t have their working relationship anymore, which from Giles?s point
of view was great since it meant she wasn?t in danger and that meant the
world to the former watcher and current world protector.
?First of Giles is just being Giles, second there is ?always? need for the
Nightblade and third? well face it... he is not too old and he?ll be back.
He has always come back in the past,? she explained patiently.
?I guess? but you?re not stuck with Wesley for three months while his
Lordship is off chasing skirts in Rio,? Faith exclaimed with an pout that
made the elder slayer giggled even more.
?Fair point and did you just say that he was chasing skirts?? she asked
with a grin at her sister's unusual, in her case anyways, choice of words.
?Don?t make me have to make you forget,? the younger slayer growled.
?Well you can?t go after him, with the Hellmouth and everything??
?Well I was kind of hoping you'd watch the store?? Faith asked with an
innocent look.
?Faith,? the Slayer exclaimed. ?Have baby, can?t travel,? she added raising
her daughter to emphasize her point and June sounded excited at the sudden
movement.
?Spike then?? the younger slayer suggested.
?No!? Elisabeth stated firmly and a little harshly. ?Spike is in no shape
to fight.?
?Wow chill B, it?s been what? two months now. It did take him this long??
?End of discussion,? the Slayer said firmly and there was long silence.
When Faith opened her mouth to speak again, a loud rumble shook the ground
briefly and then it stopped. ?Quake?? she asked.
?No too short and focused,? Elisabeth said and padded June who was dosing
of on her shoulder. While they waited for an aftershock or something worse
to come, but only Auntie June came walking into the study looking pale as if
she?d seen a ghost.
?Auntie June what?s wrong?? the Slayer asked as she stood up to help the
maid sit.
?There are guests waiting for you dear?. in the gardens,? the maid
explained in a heavy breath.
?Here get her to her room and tell Czar to stand guard,? Elisabeth said and
handed her daughter to June. ?Faith with me,? she said and the younger
Slayer practically snapped to attention. ?Weapons?? Elisabeth asked now in
full leadership mode.
?Nine milli with carbon bullets,? Faith answered. ?But I don?t think we
should overact so??
?Guests usually come through the front door,? Elisabeth explained and nodded
at the fact that there had been some radical changes in the methods of
slaying thanks to the alliance with the undying, but she needed something a
little more low-tech.
?This will do,? she said and pulled one of the swords down from the wall
and then walked over and placed a kiss on the daughter?s head.

The servants scurried away as the two Slayers past through the halls of the
mansion. Pushing the doors that led out into the gardens open they walked
down the steps in sync and saw two beings looking up at the stars and the
moon. One was dressed in red flowing robes, the other in a dark green cloak
and brown leather armor. The one in green seemed to notice them and tapped
the other on the shoulder.
?Who are you?? Elisabeth asked finding something familiar about the person
in red and both slayer's felt her undeniable presence. Then when she turned,
in a swirl of red, the Slayer let out a surprised gasp at the sight before
her.
?Hello Elisabeth, it?s been awhile,? Willow Rosenberg-Summers greeted with
a beaming smile. Her green eyes glowing slightly and her long red hair tied
into elaborate braids.
Lowering the sword, Buffy slowly walked up to her wife, looking her over and
then touching her face to see if she was real.
?I?m real,? Willow said with a smile.
When realizing that her wife was really here, returned, Elisabeth grabbed
her in a fierce hug that lasted until Faith, a little surprised at
Elisabeth's sudden forgiveness, decided she wanted to be let in what was
happening and gave out a loud ahem.

Letting go, the Slayer backed away from the Red Mage, looking at her robes
and then at the armor that the elfin girl wore, her eyes came to rest on the
House symbol holding her cloak in place.
?You are of the Third house?? it was a statement more then a question.
?I?m Litni Speed of the Third House,? the girl answered with a bow. ?I?m
honored to meet the one of the Heroes of Necris,? she added. Elisabeth
blinked twice.
?We should take this inside,? Willow suggested at her wife?s puzzled look.
?This about the promise I made to Tessa isn?t it?? Elisabeth asked with a
sigh.
?Yes,? Willow nodded.
?Faith go and tell Auntie June to set up the meeting room,? the Slayer
called back to Faith who still stood in the middle of the steps.
?Should I tell her to put the kettle on?? Faith asked in a mock English
accent.
?That would be nice, now go,? the elder slayer answered with an
absentminded wave of her hand.
?Is? our daughter here?? Willow asked looking up at the mansion.
?She?s sleeping? but you can see her later okay,? Elisabeth answered as she
bent down to pick up the sword she?d dropped. ?I?m glad your back,? she
whispered as she rose.
?I?m glad to be back, even if it is just for a little while,? Willow
answered.
Behind her Litni scanned her surroundings, seeking out any possible threat
to the Red Mage and if you looked closely you would have seen her pointy
ears perk up to pick up on the whispered words that were being shared
between the Red Mage and the Slayer.

To be continued...