-Two Worlds II- (Chapter Three: Duty and Honor)

["Cilia" <cilia@xxxxx>]

Title: Two Worlds II: The Heart of Darkness
Series: Royalty
Book: 4
Chapter Three: Duty and Honor
Author: Cilia
Author's e-mail: cilia@xxxxx
Pairings: Well duh!
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.

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 Three: Duty and Honor

It had surprised Anya Night, Deputy-Mayor of the small down of B?buga, to
get a call in the early hours of morning from her friend Elisabeth Summers
asking her to catch the next plane out because she needed a babysitter while
she planned on returning to the Old Realm with Willow.
?Wake up,? she said gently as she shook her husband?s shoulder.
?Let the dead sleep,? Daniel Night muttered and turned on his side.
?Willow is back,? Anya said with a grin and watched as the former Prince
and current Mayer jumped out of bed.
?Where? I swear I will cut that girl open and??
?Easy big guy, she?s in San Francisco asking for help and Elisabeth needs
us to fly over and pick up June,? she explained.
?She?s returning??
?Yes and wants us to take care of June.?
?Then what are you waiting for? Call the airport and have them fuel up the
jet? yesterday if possible,? he said as he set out in the quest to find his
pants.
?Already did,? Anya answered with a smile as she tilted her head to admire
the view before sliding from underneath the sheets.

~*~*~*~

Wandering through the mansion was the only thing Willow could think of
doing, Litni having being told that Willow didn?t need protection when in
the mansion was currently matching wits with Czar in a game of chess and
losing against the three hundred plus years old demon. Elisabeth was packing
for June and waiting for Anya to come and pick her up and somehow Willow
felt a like an outsider when around her daughter and their last talk with
Elisabeth hadn?t exactly ended on a high note.
?Care to join me?? a low voice asked, snapping Willow back from her
thoughts she realized she had wandered into Spike?s private study.
?I?? she stuttered at the sight of her friend, sitting back in his favorite
chair no doubt, with a glass of brandy in one hand and a cigar in the other.
She recognized the scene, but usually she was the one sitting in the chair.
?Sit down Red pour yourself a drink,? he said with a vague motion to the
empty chair in front of him.
Opening the bottle she sniffed the liquid, curled up her nose in disgust but
then relented and poured herself a glass.
?Elfin spirit spoil ya Red?? he asked taking a sip from the glass as she
sat down in front of him with a glass of her own.
?Might say that,? she answered.
?How have you been ducks?? he asked.
?Fighting a war, but I have hope for the future? she answered.
?Good, you can? never have too much hope,? he stated taking a long drag
from the cigar blowing circles into the air.
?Spike what happened to you?? she asked after a long silence with the smoke
wafting through the air.
?I?m a single dad Red. Does that answer your question?? the undying Prince
asked and leaned into the light. His eyes still radiated power and a will of
iron, but his face was drawn with lines that hadn?t been there the last time
they?d met and his long black hair sported gray lines.
?Oh my god? Luna is she???
?She?s gone Red,? he nodded.
?How can you be so??" she asked at loss for words at his behavior.
?I?m the Prince, Red so I must be strong,? he answered. ?But to tell you
the truth I cry like a sodding poof every time I think about her.?
?I?m sorry? I mean what?? How??? Willow was at a loss for words, Luna had
always appeared so strong and so in control of herself and her magic and for
her to die was just something she?d never imagined happening.
?We had us a clan war, I stopped it and Luna died saving people,? he
answered obviously not keen on talking about it. There was a knock at the
door and Auntie June peeked her head into the study.
?William, Joyce is requesting your presence,? the maid said with a gentle
smile.
?I will be with her momentarily,? Spike said with a nod and placed the
glass on the table next to him and stuffed out his cigar. When he was gone,
leaving Willow alone with June the maid spoke.
?That?s the most he?s opened up to anybody since? it happened,? the maid
explained and then left the mage to her thoughts.

~*~*~*~

Litni stared at the chessboard in front of her, it was much like the elfin
game her grandfather and Tark used to play and she knew that Tark was one of
the best player?s in the Court and had taught her many of his skills, but
then why she was losing to the blue skinned demon in front of her was beyond
her.
?Take your time,? he said leaning back in his chair and running a clawed
hand thought his white hair.
?How old are you again?? she asked.
?Stopped counting a while back actually, but you shouldn?t be asking that
being a elf maiden of less than twenty seasons and all,? he said with a
toothy smile that showed his sharp fangs.
?What do you know about elves?? she asked with a raised eyebrow.
?Not much, but enough to tell whether a lady is young or old,? he retorted.
Yep I?m losing this battle on more the one field, Litni thought to herself
as she focused her eyes on the chessboard again. She hated losing.

~*~*~*~

Anya raised her hand and the door opened to reveal the smiling face of the
girl she?d had the privilege of watching grow into adult. Even helped her
with some relationship problems along the way (1).
?Sensed me coming?? she asked with a raised eyebrow.
?An ex-demon and an undying, I wouldn?t be much of a retired slayer if I
didn?t sense that mix,? the Slayer answered as she hugged her.
?And since when did maternity leave become retirement,? the unmistakable
voice of Daniel Night asked.
?Honored Prince,? Elisabeth answered with a bow.
?Stop that,? Daniel said with a frown that quickly turned into a smile when
the Slayer hugged him.
?Where is she?? Anya asked looking around as she stepped through the doors
looking around for a certain red haired mage.
?Willow is in William?s study and Little June is taking her nap,? Auntie
June said as she entered the foray.
?I?ll take you to see her,? Elisabeth said as she grabbed Anya?s hand and
dragged her off to meet her daughter. Anya shot Daniel a look that told him
that she should be the one to talk to Willow this time around.

~*~*~*~

Elisabeth stood in front of the mirror in her room. She?d been surprised she
could still squeeze into the armor she?d brought back with her from the
realm. Still, black leather had never been high on her list to wear, but the
title of Drow General called for it. She pulled a coat over the armor walked
with her bag on her shoulder out of her room. Looking back at her now empty
room she turned out the lights with a sigh and closed the door.

Walking past Spike?s study she gently opened the door to see Spike playing
with Joyce Jr. she smiled and closed the door again. Those two would be fine
with Auntie June watching over them. Making a quick stop in the kitchen she
kissed Auntie June goodbye and accepted a mug of coco and a jar of cookies.
At the door Faith waited holding a carry-seat occupied with Little June.
?They?re waiting at the strip,? she said.
?Let?s not keep them waiting then,? Elisabeth said and opened the door.

The drive to the airstrip was quiet and no words passed between the two
Slayers until the red convertible came to a halt at the edge of the
airstrip. The two Slayers got out of the car without a sound. Faith carried
the travel bag and the carry-seat while Elisabeth carried Little June close
to her chest. When they arrived at the waiting jet Elisabeth placed her
daughter gently in the carry seat and tied the straps of her hood under her
chin with a bow. In the distance Willow and Litni waited, they would open
the portal on the airstrip as soon as the jet was safely away, they were
almost out of time and the Realm needed it?s general. Talking absentmindedly
to Anya the Slayer counted of things to remember.
?She takes her bottle medium warm, just like I showed you and when she
doesn?t want to go to sleep you should just??
Anya smiled and placed her hands on the Slayer?s shoulders.
?You?ve told me, several times,? she said.
?I just want to make sure you know in case??
?Don?t talk like that,? Anya said in a firm voice. ?You?re going to be back
in a week and don?t you go dying on her because I have friends in both
places that owe me favors.?
?But? promise me that you will take care of her if I??
?We will,? Daniel said, making quite a sight standing behind his wife with
the diaper bag slung over his shoulder.
Elisabeth looked down at her daughter, half asleep in her seat and smiled at
her while gently stroking her cheek.
?I?ll be back before you know,? she whispered and then swallowed the lump
in the back of her throat and handed the seat to Anya.
?Go before I change my mind,? she urged and the ex-demon nodded and started
walking up the stairs into the jet. Watching the hatch close, Elisabeth had
to bite into her lip to stop herself from crying out. Backing away as the
jet?s roared to life she placed the ear protectors over her head and then
watched as the jet took off and when the flapping of her coat stopped she
lowered them and waited for Willow to join her to open the portal.
?Here?s your bag B,? Faith said and handed her the travel bag that had
followed her into the Realm the first time around. ?Giles wishes you god
speed,? she added as they were bathed in blue light signaling the portal
opening.
?Drop in on Spike and baby Joyce from time to time?? she asked and removed
the coat she?d been wearing revealing the black leather armor of a Drow
general.
?I?ll take care of things here, you go save the worlds,? Faith said with a
smile, as she accepted the coat and watched the elder Slayer sling the bag
over her shoulder. ?You ?do? look good in leather you know,? she added with
a sly smile, but the mirth behind it shone through.
?I know Faith,? Elisabeth answered with a small smile breaking through.
?Take care of the place while I?m away,? she added.
?Elisabeth it?s time,? Willow said from the opening of the portal.
?Gotta go now,? The Elder Slayer said and kissed the younger on the
forehead.
?Go before I start? tearing up and mess up my makeup,? Faith ordered.
Elisabeth smiled, stroked Faiths cheek, turned away and walked with a brisk
pace into the portal, followed closely by Willow and Litni. Leaving Faith
Spencer, the only Slayer of the World once again, to watch the portal close
behind them.
?Did I miss the show?? a British accented voice asked after she?d spent
some time standing alone in the warm night air.
?Your timing is terrible Nightblade,? she said and turned around to face
the dark clad figure standing behind her.
?They?ll both be back this time? I know it,? he said and his lover smiled
as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. She knew in her
heart that one-day things would calm down and they could live something
resembling a normal life, but hopefully not too soon.


(1)Anya knocked sense into Willow during Chapter 13 of Royalty

TBC...