-Two Worlds II- (Chapter Five: Best Laid Plans)

["Cilia" <cilia@xxxxx>]

You are going to love this one :)


Title: Two Worlds II: The Heart of Darkness
Series: Royalty
Book: 4
Chapter Five: Best Laid Plans
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 Five: Best Laid Plans

Great! I get suckered back here to fight a war, okay that?s not the bad part
I?m used to fighting wars. But then Amy, sorry Queen Amy Arelys Solonus
impressive I know, comes bursting through the doors announcing that ?The
Heart of Darkness? has been returned to its former glory, so now I?m bent
backwards over history tomes reading up on it and I?m sharing the library
with the person I don?t want to be with when at the same time I want to be
with her more then anything.
?What are you thinking?? Willow asked her wife who seemed deep in though
over the tome splayed out on the worktable.
?Just absorbing the fact Amy is Queen of the Elves,? Elisabeth answered
lifting her eyes lazily from the yellowed pages of the tome.
?You should have been here for the wedding,? Willow said with a faraway
look in her eyes.
?Well I guess I missed a lot,? Elisabeth sighed.
?Not that much, be glad you weren?t here for the yearly victory
celebrations,? Willow said with a chuckle.
?Stuffy royals prancing around and touting their ?feats? they preformed at
the Battle of Necris no doubt,? Elisabeth snorted.
?They?re not all that bad you know, Tark is setting an example that many of
the younger heirs are bound to follow,? Willow defended.
?What?s the story with Litni?? Elisabeth asked.
?She?s Tark?s protégé, I guess that?s one name for it anyway. She was
always playing around the gardens and Tark spent a lot of time there, the
bards started calling him Tark the Farmer Drow, he doesn?t deny it. He loves
the earth and wants nothing more then to stay retired??
?He?s going to pissed off then, cause I need him to pull this one off,?
Elisabeth said and unrolled a map, with it effectively stopping her wife?s
babble stream.
?You weren?t listening where you?? Willow asked with a pout.
Elisabeth smiled, this was proving easier than she?d thought, the unbearable
tension she?d expected wasn?t there and it felt very much like old times
except for one thing.
?You think Al?x is leading this Dark Land resistance?? she asked.
?I? don?t know. Xander and I had a difference of opinion awhile back and we
haven't really spoken since, but if there is a rebel army then he is
probably leading it,? she answered.
?What did you disagree about??
?I wanted to wait for more information, while he wanted to strike I guess
he knew what was coming and when I didn?t listen, he stormed out.?
?Then you really don?t know whether he is dead or not??
?He is alive,? the mage stated firmly and the slayer couldn?t help but to
smile at her wife?s resolve that their friend was alive.
?You care about him don?t you??
?He?s Xander,? Willow whispered.
?These maps are no good, we?re going to need somebody who?s been in the
Dark Lands,? Buffy frowned after a moments silence.
?That?ll be Cordelia, but she?s not easily found these days,? Willow said
and drew a circle on the map with her finger. ?She could be anywhere within
this radius,? she explained.
?Okay?. Then we play it by the nose. Can you sense the Heart??
?To some degree, I mean it?s a chaos artifact??
?You can destroy it right, please tell me that you can,? Elisabeth pleaded.
The history tome had stated firmly that it could bring darkness over worlds,
so as a general and a sane being she was eager to see it destroyed and
taking it out would without a doubt bring the Dark Forces to a halt.
?Of course I can,? Willow stated firmly and again Elisabeth felt that
familiar temperature drop that she always felt when Willow went into full
Red Mage mode.
?Fine, great, whatever, but I swear to god that if we get to this thing and
you can?t destroy it I will plant my fist in your face,? Elisabeth stated
and left Willow speechless.
?We?re going after it?? she asked. Elisabeth looked at her wife; happy she?
d shut her up and started pointing at the map.
?We need to do two things, defend the city of Larken, since it?s the city
closest to the north border and also take a small force into the Dark Lands
and destroy the Heart, now for this to succeed we?ll??
?You can?t do this,? Willow stated firmly.
Elisabeth looked up at the mage with a raised eyebrow.
?Care to run that one by me again Red?? she asked her eyes shinning.
?You can?t just go and plan a war without consulting the council,? Willow
stated firmly as her voice rose.
?They?re a bunch of poufs, the Drow would drag this on for weeks and we don
?t have weeks Red, I just want to get this done and go home understood,?
Elisabeth exclaimed a little to loudly glaring down the mage. The staring
contest went on for a while and the two women slowly drew closer to each
other.
?I. Still. Hate. You,? Elisabeth gritted.
?And. I. Hate. You. For. Leaving,? Willow whispered back.

Litni turned another corner, she was running under direct orders from
Piratess to get the General and Willow, apparently Grimm had just arrived,
having spent both his horses in the nonstop ride and then he?d ran through
the Nether. Things were not good and she? came to screeching halt once she
entered the library, the General was baring down on Willow and from the
looks of it ready to either kiss or strangle her, or maybe it was the other
way around she couldn?t really tell.
?You are required in the meeting chamber,? she exclaimed out of breath,
causing the pair to jump apart and then Willow was gone in a flash of light,
leaving the stunned General and Litni behind.
?You don?t have to choose sides,? the General said and straightened her
hair, seemingly calming down quicker than the elf.
?I am Drow, we don?t choose sides,? Litni answered. ?But if you want my
opinion you are both being stubborn as hell,? she added.
?Dually noted Litni, now lets go and see what the thief-boy wants,? the
General said and rolled up the map and stuck it under her arm.

Utter chaos greeted them when the entered the meeting chamber, the generals
where all present along with the Royals and the ambassadors, Willow was busy
talking with King Einar, Piratess and Amy, while a small groups of humans,
Drows, elves and dwarves talked among themselves. They were greeted by a
very dirty and tired Grimm. He?d aged somewhat, with his blond hair cut
short and Elisabeth blinked at the sight of him in the white ambassador
cloak.
?Hello General,? he greeted with a mix of a smile and a grim look.
?Hello Grimm, how?s life?? she asked with a raised eyebrow.
?Well, I?m a consort to a Queen, an ambassador with unlimited funds at my
disposal, so life is good, well for the most part,? he said with a look
around and flashed a roguish grin.
?What is this terrible news you bring then?? she asked.
?Sections of the borders are collapsing and my spies report the Dark Forces
massing and getting ready to march on Larken,? he answered with an
unbelievable calm in his voice.
?What are these idiots doing about it?? she asked raising an eyebrow at the
chaos in the room.
?Arguing, that?s what the Royals do best isn?t it?? the thief stated.
Behind them Litni watched with keen interest and keen ears.
?This is ridiculous,? she muttered low enough so nobody would hear, except
the General with heightened senses and a former thief.
?You are absolutely right,? the General said with a grin, a grin that Grimm
shared and it made Litni a little bit nervous when she was handed the map.

Walking up to the meeting table, the General nimbly jumped up on it and drew
her sword, making sure the sound of the blade leaving the sheath was audible
to all present, or at least that was the plan.
?Ladies and Gentlemen if I may have your attention please,? she exclaimed
in a loud voice, when it became clear that her voice didn?t make a dent in
the noise wall in the room she looked down at King Einar who was sitting
quietly at the table, the dwarf king she knew did most of thinking either
sitting or in the smithy.
?Yer speakin on deaf ears lass,? he huffed as he looked up at her offered
hand.
?Maybe you can get their attention then,? she suggested as he hoisted him
onto the table. The King smiled and drew a deep breath.
?Stop yer yappin ya daft idiots,? the dwarf king bellowed his voice
vibrating of the walls in the chamber and drawing all eyes to the General.
?Thank you King Einar,? Elisabeth nodded and cast her eyes across her
audience, Grimm was grinning like an idiot, Willow was well Willowish and
Piratess and Amy both nodded.
?For those of you who don?t know, I am General Elisabeth Summers of the
Drow,? she started. ?I returned for one purpose and one purpose alone to
fight the Darkness that?s now knocking on your backdoor,? she paused making
sure that she had their attention. ?I did not however come here to be
involved in inner-Alliance politics. Now? those among you that want to fight
sit your Royal behinds down. Those who don?t I will ask you to leave? now,?
she said, sheathed her sword and jumped down from the table and took Willow?
s seat at the head of the table.
?This is against protocol,? a Drow Royal shouted finally when they had all
just stared at her for a moment.
?This is not a Democracy sir,? she stated firmly as Einar took his seat as
did Grimm.
?We have rules to follow, proceeding must be in order with those rules,? an
elfin Royal said and motioned to a large block of wood and stone covered
with writing at the far end of the chamber. How he came to be there was
beyond her, but Elisabeth pushed on. She pulled out her knife and threw it
at the block.
?If you didn?t listen well the first time, we are soon going to be under
attack,? she gritted through her teeth, forcing the elf to sit down with a
glare. ?Now sit down,? she stated again and her eyes threatened pain and a
slow death to anyone who dared to challenge her.
?Now lets talk strategy and trust me we?re not leaving this room until we
have a battle plan and marching orders,? she stated firmly and the wall of
noise rose again.

~*~*~*~

Several candle marks later the plan was completed and approved by all
present. General Elisabeth would take a small army into the Dark Lands and
attempt to destroy the Heart of Darkness, while the Alliance Army would make
it?s stand at Larken and then if successful they?d march on into the Dark
Lands and meet up with the General if she hadn?t succeeded in destroying the
Heart.
?You have any idea how much damage you did back there?? Willow asked out of
nowhere and the Slayer hadn?t even seen her there in front of her.
?Look your highness I came here to fight a war, not to indulge myself in
politics,? Elisabeth shot back and made herself ready to move the mage out
of the way.
?I spent nine years building this Alliance, General and I will not have
that work undone by some battle hungry soldier,? Willow fired back and
stressed her title firmly.
?Gods you sound just like them,? Elisabeth exclaimed referring to the
Royals.
?Like it or not we need them General, they command the manpower,? Willow
said and Elisabeth felt the familiar temperature drop.
?Please, the way you are running things I?m surprised there hasn?t been a
revolt already. You?re stepping on dangerous ground Red, thrusting democracy
no matter how limited is bound to have consequences,? Elisabeth stated
firmly.
?Ever the scholar now are we Elisabeth,? Willow bit back.
?Mage Willow, Queen Solonus would like a word,? someone said and Willow
didn?t even spare the owner a glance before marching off. With a resounding
slam of a door in the distance Elisabeth let out a lengthy breath and then
looked up slowly.
?I take it you want to bite my head off next?? she asked the Drow Princess
that now stood blocking the way into her room. Stjar?a gave a small
secretive smile.
?You and I have some? things? to work out,? she answered and opened the
door for her motioning for her to enter.
?Oh after you,? Elisabeth insisted.

Once in her room, Elisabeth found the main room was similar to Piratess?s
workroom with a hearth, two chairs and a work desk, then there was door
leading into the bedroom and another most likely leading into what passed
for the toilet in the Realm.
When both women where seated and the tea had been poured, although Elisabeth
wished for something stronger, Stjar?a cut straight to the point.
?What happen between you and Moondancer is in the past,? she stated and
carefully sipped her cup.
?Straight to the point as always,? Elisabeth nodded and swirled the tea
with her spoon. ?If you don?t mind me asking: Did you take her back??
?I forgave her yes,? Stjar?a answered. ?and? she seemed surprised,? she
added.
?This isn?t some weird elfin thing I?m unaware of is it?? Elisabeth asked
with a raised eyebrow.
?No, but what she did was to be? expected? we can?t be together very often
you understand, so I expected what happened nine years ago to happen,? Stjar
?a explained and Elisabeth looked stunned. Stjar?a looked up from her cup
and smiled.
?Understand of course that although I understood her slip with you, she has
not made a habit out of 'getting pelvic? behind my back,? she explained
calmly and Elisabeth smiled at the elf?s use of slang.
?So you think of me as what? her last fuck?? Elisabeth asked a little angry
and how calmly Stjar?a had seemingly taken Cordelia?s misstep.
?No, I think of you as my friend Elisabeth and I know how much you were
hurting during your time in Tharon,? the Drow explained. ?You have a certain
draw that?s undeniable and in a way you helped Cordy as much as she ?helped?
you, I guess.?
?Helped,? Elisabeth snorted. ?Yeah that?s one way of putting it I guess.?
?I also know that Willow has had longer than you to? heal and that she
truly wishes to be with you once again,? Stjar?a stated and her ?royal-mask?
lowering somewhat to reveal the carefree and caring moon-elf that she still
was at heart.
?If she does then she?s not showing it,? Elisabeth sighed and placed the
cup on the table next to heir chair.
?Give her time, she is stubborn and you are not helping things with your
antics in the meeting chamber,? Stjar?a explained patiently. ?Not that I
object mind you,? she added.
?So you?re not buying into the Alliance then?? Elisabeth asked a little
surprised.
?The Alliance yes, but not the way it?s being run at the current time no.
We, the Drow, are at risk of getting lost among the flood. You see we?re not
as numerous as the humans or the elves. King Einar shares this viewpoint
with me, but for the time being things will have to remain stable,? she
explained.
?I hope you aren?t planning anything drastic?? Elisabeth asked.
?No, but this Alliance was not meant for peace-times, it began as one of
war, but now? it?s become so huge that you have to put in a request to a
committee to get your blade sharpened,? she explained with a sigh.
?Really?? Elisabeth asked surprised.
?No, but they?re getting there,? Stjar?a answered with a grin. There was a
pause before Elisabeth asked the question she knew she?d have to ask.
?Do you know where Cordy is?? she asked. ?We kind of need her if we?re
going to pull all this off,? she explained.
?Take the Northern Roads into the Great Wilderness and she?ll probably find
you,? Stjar?a answered and placed her empty cup on the table. ?And if it isn
?t a bother, bring her back to me??
?I will try,? Elisabeth nodded wondering just how long it had been since
Cordelia had visited her consort, but her mind voted against her asking
about it further.

~*~*~*~

Litni watched Willow pace her office at the Alliance Headquarters and
wondering if keeping her promise to the Avatar about looking after Willow
would be hazardous to her health, but then again she?d never feared the Red
Mage.
?Testing the durability of the floor?? she asked leaning against the
doorframe.
?Daniel told me this would happen and I walked right into it,? the mage
muttered placing herself in her favorite chair.
?The tall guy with the hair, kinda cute with a voice like the night wind??
Litni asked as she walked into the office.
?My? aren?t you the little spy,? Willow said sarcastically.
?So? What did he tell you?? the elf asked and sat on the desk?s corner.
?That I should make an effort of mending things with Elisabeth and that he
would personally do some very nasty things to me if I didn?t at least try,?
she answered.
?Judging from what I saw in the library you are trying, what exactly
escapes me, but you are trying,? Litni said with a smile.
?You?re hilarious anyone told you that?? Willow asked.
?Well I?ve been called a lot of things, but usually that?s just to get me
into the woods,? Litni answered.
?How is the last boy who tried that doing by the way?? Willow asked with a
grin.
?Grandpa healed his arm the other day,? Litni answered with an evil grin.
She?d been raised by a drow general and had an independent streak a mile
long, still many Royal houses that wished to align themselves with the Third
House though they could do so through her. Thus the constant invitations
from royal sons to be her escorts and so forth, but usually they left with
bruises and not just on their over inflated egos.
There was a knock on the door and a messenger entered the office and
delivered a letter to the mage. Breaking the triple royal seal, Willow
carefully read through the letter and then lowered it.
?What is it?? Litni asked.
?The High Council has approved of Elisabeth?s plan, so it looks like you my
little warrior, will finally get your wish,? Willow sighed.
?What do you mean,? Litni said as she walked around the table and lifted
the letter. Her eyes grew wide as she dropped the letter that read:

?By order of the High Council, Mage Willow Rosenberg shall accompany General
Summers and her troops into the Dark Lands and assist in destruction of the
Heart of Darkness. Furthermore General Summers is granted over-all command
of the mission.
As of this moment the position of Chairman of the Alliance Council has been
transferred to Queen Amy Arelys Solonus for the duration of this mission,
this is within the founding charter and will not be reversed until the
mission is either completed or aborted. Signed Queen Piratess of Necris,
King Einar Thunderfoot, Queen Amy Arelys Solonus and Ambassador Grimm.?

When Litni looked at Willow when the implications of the decision of the
High Council became clear. She would be going into the Dark Lands, along
with Willow and General Summers.
?I?? she stuttered.
?I can have your tenure revoked,? Willow said calmly.
?No,? Litni stated firmly. ?It?s my duty to guard you and I will not stand
down.?
?Litni? I never planned for this and I don?t want to put you in harms way,?
Willow explained with an almost motherly concern.
?We are at war Willow,? Litni stated. ?There is no place where you are
safe.?
Willow looked her surrogate daughter over, she wasn?t a little girl anymore,
that was for sure, but she was nowhere near being a grown woman either. Then
again she hadn?t been much older when she joined the eternal struggle.
?Go pack,? she said finally. Litni smiled and kissed her on the cheek and
then practically ran from the office. Leaving a brooding mage to contemplate
how her plans and predictions could have failed so drastically in less then
a day.

To be continued....