-Two Worlds II: In the Castle Of Sun-

["Cilia" <cilia@xxxxx>]

Hello all,
Well it's been hectic but here you have new Two Worlds chapter, now is
long, romance filled with some interesting new plots emerging as always. Now
there are only 13 more chapters to go before it's all over. I hope!
Cilia

Title: Two Worlds II: The Heart of Darkness
Series: Royalty
Book: 4
Chapter Thirteen: In the Castle Of Sun
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 Thirteen: In the Castle Of Sun

Litni watched as dawn broke over the horizon, they?d been flying through out
the night and now she could see their destination, a green valley surrounded
by high dark mountains. She glanced at the Shadow, Poet, whom the Lady Sun
had insisted on bringing along he was staring into the sky with a faraway
look on his face which was to be expected given the amount of sedative she?s
put on the darts. Also the dwarf was snoring and the dark haired halfling
kept a calm eye on everybody it seemed.
?You are Priestess Ziel are you not?? Litni asked the halfling.
?The one and only,? the halfling answered with a smile.
?So that must be Gymli Graybeard?? she asked and motioned to the snoring
dwarf.
?In the smelly, barely groomed flesh,? the Lady Sun said without turning
around, but Litni could hear her smile.
?Do you have any news of Grimm?? Ziel asked.
?Ambassador Grimm is leading the armies gathering at Larken,? Litni
answered.
?And Queen Piratess?? Ziel asked and averted her eyes.
?Is currently rallying the armies of the Drow and marching them on Larken,?
Poet answered before Litni got a chance to answer.
?You want to get shot again?? Litni asked.
?Won?t work,? Poet retorted.
?Lets just try that theory then,? Litni exclaimed and drew her small bow.
?Enough,? the Dwarf bellowed as he woke up. ?I?m a dwarf not a nanny, as if
dese aren?t bad enough I refuse to deal with ye also,? he exclaimed.
?Come now Gymli we?re not that bad,? Lady Sun said with a smirk.
?Ye try lookin? out for dis group for nine long years,? Gymli retorted. ?It
?ll be enough to drive a Drow out his mind I tell ye lass,? he said to
Litni.
?I?m putting the bow down,? Litni said in a small voice.
?Good,? Poet said.
?We?re going to land soon,? Joyce said, as the green valley became larger
and larger. ?So put your attitude away for now,? she added, turning around
and giving both of them firm stares.
?Then I'd better get used to dungeon life then?? Poet asked.
?No the Lord of the castle will undoubtedly like to meet with you,? Ziel
said in her calm voice.

The dragon touched down in the courtyard of the Castle of Sun; it was made
from the dark stone that made up the mountains surrounding the valley. Its
three towers reached high into the air and it looked like it was surrounded
by a solid wall with no gate.
?I?ll take you to see Al?x now,? The Lady said as she jumped gracefully
down from the dragon?s back. ?Ziel make sure she knows how much we
appreciate her assistance and tell her to wait at the entrance to the
valley, ? she instructed. ?And Gymli I think your mug is waiting for you,?
she added with a smile. The dwarf muttered curses in the languages he knew
and stormed off into the castle.
?He doesn?t like flying much,? she explained as she saw the baffled look on
Litni?s face, while Poet appeared stoic.
?Why am I not bound, surely you must know that I will attempt escape?? he
asked in his humming voice.
?We?ll walk and talk,? the Lady said as she let them into the castle.
?Why are you so interested in being bound anyway?? Litni asked as she
walked by Poet?s side as the Lady let them through the halls.
?Don?t tease the boy and he won?t run very far,? the Lady Sun said as she
stopped at a staircase spiraling upwards. ?He?s waiting for you on the
observation balconies,? she said and motioned for them to walk up.
?After you,? Poet said and motioned for Litni to walk up.
?Oh no, after you,? Litni said as she motioned for him to walk first, the
Shadow merely shrugged his shoulders and started climbing the stairs. The
Lady placed a hand on Litni?s shoulder.
?Litni I want to thank you for watching over Willow for me,? she said with
a smile.
?You? you remember that?? Litni asked.
?I remember a little girl huddled against the wall, but I always knew you?d
keep your promise,? Joyce said with a smile. ?Now go wait for the old man
and don?t let him intimidate you,? she said and let go of her shoulder.
Litni started slowly walking backwards up the staircase, not taking her eyes
of Lady Joyce Sun until she disappeared from view.

When the duo had accented up the stairs, a familiar form appeared behind
Joyce, sporting a white armor and forest green cloak, Priestess Theris
Forestwalker stepped next to her friend of almost a decade.
?They won?t kill each other if that is what you are wondering,? she stated
in her echoing voice.
?I thought you?d be drinking with Gymli after the day he?s had?? Joyce
asked with a smirk.
?The dwarf wanted solitude,? Theris said with a smile, which was more
Angels then Theris? smile.
?So what?s your reading on Poet,? Joyce asked as she started walking down
the hall.
?Too early to tell,? Theris answered as she spared a glance up the
staircase before following the Avatar.
?You think Al?x had the right? to do what he did?? Joyce asked.
?I wouldn?t have assisted him if I didn?t think it necessary,? Theris
answered.
?I know, but is it right? to burden another?? Joyce pondered as they
stepped into an indoor garden.
?Destiny demands it,? Theris said and sat down on a low stone bench. ?Al?x
Sun has fulfilled his role, now another must be called,? she went on.
?But she?s so young,? Joyce sighed as she leaned against a column and
regarded the High Elf.
?So was he and a gift like his should not be wasted,? Theris stated firmly.
?I still think it?s wrong,? Joyce said and turned away and left the High
Elf. The High Elf sat with the sound of running water from the gardens
fountain for only a brief moment when another guest appeared before her.
?Hello Moondancer,? she greeted.
?This isn?t funny Theris,? Cordelia said firmly. ?This wasn?t supposed to
happen like this, the gift should have never been passed on and he should
have stayed in hiding. This isn?t his war anymore,? she exclaimed.
?Go back and lead our friends Cordelia and in time everything will be
clear,? Angel explained in a calm voice.
?This isn?t over and don?t you dare summon the others without my
knowledge,? Cordelia threatened before she disappeared.
?Think she suspects?? Angel asked inside Theris? mind.
?No my friend, nobody suspects what is about to unfold,? Theris answered.

~*~*~*~

Poet emerged from the arch leading onto the balconies followed closely by
Litni, who kept a hand on her sword and another on the small crossbow under
her cloak. They both made their way towards the railing and looked out over
the valley. Litni adjusted the grip on her sword, while Poet crossed his
hands over his chest. This was the first time either had seen the other by
the light of day.

Litni cast a side way glance at Poet and was surprised how human her enemy
looked by the light of day, skin and eye color aside. He had a relatively
thin frame that was concealed in a black cloak with only his hands showing
from underneath it, but she could also see the armor on his shoulder
protruding outwards. Still he made quite an imposing figure with his arms
crossed over his chest and staring out over the valley. He was taller than
she?d thought and, although she hated to admit it, handsome by any
standards. Averting her eyes quickly when he turned his head and smiled she
felt a blush creeping into her cheeks, but hoped that with her already sun
reddened cheeks that it wouldn't show.

Poet could feel that he was being sized up and cast a look on the elfin girl
next to him; she quickly averted her eyes. He gave a small smile, as his
white eyes took in the sight of his enemy, not that he hadn?t sized her up
before, but the light of day gave her a whole new look and brought her to
life. She was short, not regal and majestic, as he would have expected from
a princess of a Drow house. With her short blond hair, that served to cry
out against her societies rigors and her various ornaments that would not be
judged fitting of a lady of her standing. The sun shimmered off the golden
ring in the lope of her right ear and the cloak flapped slightly, marking
the departure of the dragon that had brought them here. He noted that she
had not let go over the hilt of her sword, while her left hand rested on the
black railing. Her armor was something he paid particular attention to, in
case it would require some piercing later on, it was strapped on tightly,
but being made out of soft leather it molded itself around her body. She
would grow into a beautiful woman.
?There really is no need to grip your sword so tightly Miss Speed,? a deep
voice said causing them both to turn around. Standing before them was man
with a golden cape draped over flowing white clothing, on his chest rested a
sun totem. His hair was graying at the sides, but otherwise he didn?t look
very old, his face was smooth aside from two scars, one over his right eye
and another running half the length of his neck and his brown eyes danced
with laughter at the situation he was witnessing.
?I?m Lord Al?x Sun, welcome to my home,? he said in a welcoming voice.
Poet watched with puzzled expression as Litni fell to one knee and bowed her
head.
?Litni Speed, daughter of Craton Speed and a member of the Third House of
Necris and charge to General Tark Dragon,? she said.
?Please don?t do that,? Al?x said with a shake of his head as he offered
her his hand.
?And you young man what?s your name?? he asked.
?Poet will do for now,? Poet answered with a bow of his head that had not
been intended, but that man in front of him seemed to command a strange
sense of respect.
?You are the one from my dreams? are you not?? Litni asked.
?Yes and I have much to tell the both of you before Elisabeth arrives with
her army,? Al?x said. ?And some of it you won?t want to hear,? he added as
he walked to the railing.
?Litni you have been having dreams, vision of battles to come and you Poet
have found yourself unable to leave to report back to your superiors is that
correct?? he asked and turned around to regard the pair.
?Yes,? Litni said.
?That?s correct,? Poet said with a nod.
?Both are in some way my doing, I have made sure that you have been kept on
the path here through various means,? Al?x explained.
?Why?? Poet asked since he was assimilating the information much faster
than Litni.
?I can?t tell, but I knew I had to get you two here before the army led by
Elisabeth,? Al?x said.
?Why are you telling us this?? Litni asked.
?Cause I don?t like making the same mistake twice,? Al?x said as Ziel
appeared in the archway. ?Ziel will take you to your rooms and we?ll talk
more later today, but now rest,? he said as he turned and walked away
through another archway.
?Follow me please,? Ziel said as she motioned for them to follow.
Litni looked at Poet, who motioned for her to go first, she just shook her
head with a smirk and Poet walked through the archway.

~*~*~*~

Poet waited until the priestess had left the room before testing the
strength of the wards on the windows, they were every bit as good as she?d
promised leaving him with sore fingertips. Donning clean clothes from the
armory, he concluded that they had been planning for their arrival for some
time and had excellent information on him.
?Seems that Lord Sun is ahead of me,? he thought to himself as he studied
the white cloak that he?d found.
?This just will not do,? he muttered and threw the cloak on the bed.
Feeling naked without his cloak he stepped out into the hall.
?That way,? he said to himself and started creeping down the hall. He soon
heard the sound of running water and the singing of birds.
?I can?t be outside this quickly,? he said as he stepped into an indoor
garden, it was a massive hall topped with a glass dome, it had tress growing
high into the airm, running water and wildlife.
?This is amazing,? he said to himself as he stared up and spun himself
around.
?So you like my creation?? an echoing voice asked causing him to stop his
childish spinning.
?Priestess Theris,? he greeted with a nod. ?I was just getting to know my
surrounding,? he explained.
?No you were trying to find a way to escape and don?t try lying to me again
young man,? the High Elf said in a motherly voice.
?I swear you people are a spy's worst nightmare,? he said and sat down on a
bench by the small stream. ?So honest and caring, so transparent and
observant.?
?Well I wouldn?t judge us so quickly,? Theris said as she sat down next to
him. ?We all have secrets,? she added.
?If this is going to change into a recruitment speech you'd better stop
now,? Poet said holding up his hand.
?What makes you think that we need your help?? Theris asked. ?After all we
probably know more about your peoples? plans then you do,? she said with a
small smile.
?Well you have managed to stay hidden within our lands for years now and
you should hear the tantrums my superior throws when he hears about your
latest activities,? Poet said with a laugh.
?That amuses you?? Theris asked.
?Yes, don?t be mistaken I will fight this war until it?s either over or I?m
no longer breathing, but I do so because it?s my duty to do so,? Poet
answered.
?So you don?t fight for the vision of your leaders?? Theris asked.
?I?m not blind, I see that much of what we are planning is wrong, but as I
see it it?s either, join up or get out of the way,? Poet explained.
?So you joined up why??
?Not sure I wanted adventure I guess,? Poet answered. ?And the funny thing
is that when I got offered a mission to spy on troop movements I jumped at
it for some reason,? he added.
Theris just smiled and stood.
?Return to your room young Poet,? she said. ?And with time everything will
become clear,? she added and then vanished before his eyes.
?It couldn?t be,? he muttered
.
~*~*~*~

Litni watched as the door closed, leaving her alone in the room. She had
questioned why Poet had been thrown into the dungeons instead of placing him
in a room across the hall and Ziel had informed her that the castle didn?t
have dungeons and that the room was warded in case he tried to escape out
the windows. Now a trail of dirty clothes led up to the bed, where she lay.
?Well here I am? in the presence of heroes,? Litni muttered as she rolled
over on the bed wearing a cotton gown she?d found in one of the armories in
the room. Her stomach rumbled and she realized that she hadn?t eaten since
last night?s supper.
?Wonder if there is a kitchen around this place,? she though as she rolled
off the bed. Gathering her cloak and crossbow she tiptoed towards the door.
The crossbow was not a weapon she favored, but it got the job done, although
Tark would call it dishonorable to shoot your opponent in a duel. Well she
had just wanted to win. She stepped out into the hall and looked around, the
door leading into Poet?s room was closed. She shook her head and started
down the hall in what she hoped was the direction of the kitchen.
?Going somewhere Miss Speed,? a soft voice asked causing her to spin around
and aiming her crossbow with one hand while holding the cloak that she?d
wrapped around her with the other.
?You really should wear more than a sheet if you are planning on raiding
the kitchen,? Poet said, a hint of a smile crept to his lips as he stepped
into the light of a light globe. Litni was about to form a retort, but it
died on her lips as a furious blush crept into her cheeks and her apparent
situation dawned on her, she was standing in a hall, wearing a thin gown and
cloak while wielding a crossbow at a man that was in fact an unarmed
prisoner of war.
?And might I add that you look? utterly ridiculous in your current pose,?
he said as he placed a hand on the crossbow and pushed it down.
?Sorry, but this is the fourth time I run into you and your kind kick my
training into gear,? Litni said as she composed herself and hid the crossbow
away under the cloak. She took a long look at Poet, seeing him without armor
and cloak was proving very interesting, a thin well-defined body that she
knew held tremendous strength along with a long elegant neck and with black
hair flowing freely around his face, but what was it with this guy and
black.
?Where, do you put that thing might I ask?? Poet asked with a smile.
?None of your business,? Litni said with a huff, turned on her toe and
marched down the hall.
?Well thanks for not breaking my wrist,? he called after her and she froze,
causing her to spin around with eyes spewing fire at him.
?How did you know about that!? she demanded.
?Well,? he said as she sauntered up to her. ?A spy is only as good as the
information he can gather and I?m very good,? he explained.
?I?m not getting rid of you am I?? she asked with a sigh.
?As a matter of fact I was in the search of the kitchen myself,? he
explained.
?Did you find it?? Litni asked.
?No but I ended up having an interesting conversation, if you could it
that, with a High Elf,? he answered as they started down the hall together.
?So you talked to Theris then, man I must have dozed off,? she muttered.
?Yes quite an interesting being, duel spirits and all that,? he said as
they descended down the stairs.
?That?s because Al?x summoned the spirit during the battle of Necris and
asked it to bond with her to save her life,? Litni answered on reflex.
?I did not know that,? Poet said. ?So any other legends I should be aware
of before we meet up with Lord Sun?? he asked.
?Well there?s? oh there?s the kitchen,? she said and pointed to the large
doors leading into the castle kitchen. Once settled with loaves of bread,
cheese and apple juice Poet asked again about the Heroes of Necris.
?Well I guess there is no harm in telling you, since you probably already
know this,? Litni said thoughtfully as she broke the bread.
?Al?x Sun was a General in the Last Great War that unified the Elfin lands
under King Vitor, but in the battle he lost the woman he loved and gave up
being a soldier. For several years nothing was heard from him, but then he
came back before the Battle of Necris and brought with him General Elisabeth
and Mage Willow, who helped forge the Alliance that your people are now
waging war on,? she explained.
?So the Alliance is not a creation of the Royals?? Poet asked.
?No those idiots couldn?t agree on uniform colors let alone form and
alliance. Mage Willow oversaw its formation and lead the Council until she
was ordered to aid General Elisabeth in her quest and trust me she was not
happy about it,? Litni said and sipped her apple juice.
?Interesting,? Poet said and took a small bite of his bread.
?So what?s your story Poet, why do you fight, or spy, and you weren?t
looking for the kitchen were you?? Litni asked.
?Second question first, no I wasn?t looking for the kitchen when I met up
with you. I was trying to escape, but I did talk to Theris,? Poet said.
?Fair enough,? Litni nodded.
?As for why I fight, well I love my country and although I don?t agree with
some of the motives behind this war my need for a change drove me into the
fighting,? he explained. ?Also it beats being a farmer,? he added.
?Don?t underestimate the lure of the earth,? Litni said with a smile.
?What about you Miss Speed why do you fight?? Poet asked as he leveled his
gray and white eyes with hers.
?I? I?m not sure why? I thought I was but now?? Litni stopped to think. ?You
see I came along because of my duty as guard to Mage Willow and you try
guarding the most powerful wielder of magic in the realm,? she explained as
she studied her hands.
?Could you have stayed behind?? Poet asked as he took her hands in his.
?No?? she answered as she felt the warmth of his touch spread though her
hands.
?Why did you join the fighting to begin with Miss Speed??
?Because of Lady Xare,? Litni whispered. ?She and Tark? were in love and
when she died at Necris? Well I don?t ever want to see somebody as sad as
Tark was that day when he returned to the City of Elves,? she explained.
?You want to protect your friends then,? Poet whispered.
?I?? Litni started and looked at their hands. ?I? wanted to find?? her eyes
darted between his eyes, his lips and then back at their joined hands. There
was a loud crash as the kitchen doors where flung open and in stepped Gymli
and Lady Sun.
?Beat you and that means you cook breakfast,? she exclaimed with a smile as
she pointed down at the dwarf.
?Yer not bein? fair less, racing a dwarf with those legs an?all,? the Dwarf
huffed and batted the flat side of his axe against the mentioned body part.
?First of I know I great legs, but you are such a fine cook,? she countered.
?Oh morning you two,? she greeted when she registered their presence.
?I?ve got to go,? Litni said as she bolted from the kitchen.
?Wha? did ya do?? Gymli asked and threw a suspicious eye towards the Shadow.
?Don?t scare the boy Gymli, he didn't do anything,? Joyce said and patted
Gymli?s head and took a seat opposite Poet. ?A word of advice young man,?
Joyce said firmly. ?Hurt her and you?ll gain a new understanding of pain.?
?Yes ma?am,? Poet said with a nod.
?Now lets talk about your future,? she said with a smile and leaned
backwards and placed her hands behind her head.

Litni raced back to her room, all of sudden the castle seemed to have come
alive and she nearly ran down two servants on her way, before slamming the
door to her room behind her and leaning against it.
?No, no, no,? she chanted over and over again.
?Trouble,? a deep voice asked causing her to spin around. Standing next to
the window in the early morning light was Lord Al?x Sun in all his stately
glory. ?I came to continue our talk but found both you and Poet gone so I
decided to wait,? he explained.
?Well? I?? Litni said and smoothed down her gown and took a deep breath
just like Willow had thought. ?No I?m fine, please sit,? she said and
motioned to the only chair in the room. ?What was it that you wanted to talk
about?? she said as she sat down on the bed facing him.
?I'd like to start by apologizing in advance for the pain you will endure
because of my gift,? he said in a low voice.
?Pain?? Litni asked.
?Yes, with knowing the future comes the duty of sometimes seeing to it that
it happens as planned and you might have to kill someone dear to you cause
the gift will tell you so. For this I apologize,? he said and lowered his
head.
?I? don?t know what to say, I mean the visions have been disturbing but??
?The reason I summoned you here is to prepare you for a greater destiny,
one that even I haven?t fully foreseen,? Al?x explained.
?I??
?Walk with me,? Al?x said and stood.
?Where too?? Litni asked.
?I?m going to show you my lands and try to explain why I set the things in
motion that are now happening to you and Poet,? Al?x explained and offered
her his hand.

Litni stood once again on the highest tower of Castle Sun, accompanied by
Lord of Land, Al?x Sun.
?Shouldn?t Poet be here too?? she asked from where she stood behind him
holding the cloak around her body.
?Joyce and Gymli are telling him what he needs to know and I?ll talk to him
later,? Al?x explained as he looked over his lands. ?All this is mine now. I
have a companion in life that I love and friends that have stayed with me
through the course of the last decade,? he explained. ?You understand what I
?m saying to you Litni??
?You don?t want to make the same mistakes again and loose your loved ones
in battle that, in the end, might have no meaning,? Litni answered.
?I never make the same mistakes twice,? Al?x nodded. ?I came so close
during the battle of Necris, but Elisabeth saved me at the last minute. So
when I was offered the chance to chose a successor I grabbed it with both
hands.?
?Me?? Litni asked dumbfounded.
?Yes you Litni. I?ve been champion of the Land of Elves for long enough. I?
ve protected it and spilt blood for it, but now that life is behind me,? he
explained.
?I didn?t know championships were passed on,? Litni stated.
?There has only been one champion of the Land of Elves, so there are no
traditions to follow and with all regards I was hoping the position would
die with me. I now see that that is not to be,? Al?x explained as he gripped
the railing.
?But why me, why not someone like Ambassador Grimm or one of the Royals??
Litni asked.
?Cause I?ve chosen you, whether or not you accept is up to you,? Al?x
answered. ?But my duties are now to the Land of Sun and its people,? he
added.
?And what if I refuse?? Litni asked.
?Then you will refuse. The champion is not essential but the Elves will
need one in the coming days,? Al?x answered.
?How long have I to consider this?? Litni asked.
?I want an answer before you go into battle and there are some things I
wish to teach you regardless of your decisions,? Al?x said and turned around
to face her. ?But I need an answer,? he stressed.
?You?ll have it? by the time we leave,? Litni nodded. ?Am I excused?? she
asked.
?Go and if you have any questions, even those not regarding the
championship please feel free to consult with me,? he said. Litni nodded and
turned around. ?And Litni don?t be afraid of what your heart tells you, it
often makes a lot of sense,? he added. Litni stopped for a moment to think
before leaving.

Al?x stood alone on the tower for a while after Litni left, thinking about
the motives behind his action, when his companion of the last nine years
joined him.
?So how did it go?? Joyce asked as she wrapped her arms around him from
behind.
?She?ll do fine once she has a battle behind her,? Al?x answered. ?What
about Poet??
?He?s a young man in search of a cause and he?s not too happy about the
banner he fights under now,? she explained.
?If push comes to shove who will he side with?? Al?x asked.
?Like you don?t already know that?? Joyce asked with a grin.
?I?ll have you know Lady Sun, that despite popular legend I?m not all
seeing and all knowing,? Al?x stated with smile.
?I?m glad you gave it up? is it wrong for me to feel that way?? Joyce
asked.
?We always knew that one day I would no longer be able to sustain the gift
the God of Order gave me and lets face it I?m not a young man anymore
Joyce,? Al?x answered. Joyce let go of him and turned him around so that he
was facing her, wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer.
?Oh I think you?ve still got a few years left in you,? she said with a
smile and Al?x brought his golden cape up to shield them from peering eyes.

When Litni returned to her door she found Poet waiting for her outside, now
wearing full armor and cloak he had his hands crossed over his chest.
?Poet? not now,? she moaned as she pushed him aside and opened the door.
?Actually, I came to see if you want to spare with me, Theris and Gymli??
he asked. Litni turned around and looked at him for a moment that stretched
on before shaking her head and smiling.
?What the hell,? she said and threw up her hands. ?Wait here and I?ll get
my gear together,? she said and closed the door behind her.
Donning her gear, the green shirt now washed, the forest green tights
followed by the brown leather armor slightly worn now from her repeated run
ins with Poet. Fastening her cloak with the triangle symbol of the Third
House, she looked around for her wristbands and went through the near
ceremonial process of putting them on. Then a pair of worn leather boots,
pulled up high onto the calves and fastened tightly, followed by the shin
guards. The finishing touched were the bindings around her thighs and the
donning of the necklace she always wore, a circle with a cross inside on a
silver chain. Finally came the sword with its belt containing many pouches
filled with various herbs and mixtures to heal wounds. She tightened the
belt to hold the flowing hem of her shirt in place and drew the sword that
had been her fathers, exquisitely crafted crystal blade and a unique hilt
design made it her most prized possession and the only link to her real
father who had disappeared shortly after the last battle of the Last Great
War. As thoughts raced through her mind the image of Poet popped into her
mind and she smiled. Sheathing the sword she opened the door and stepped out
into the hall where Poet waited.
?Friends?? she asked and stuck out her hand. Poet regarded the hand before
clasping it firmly.
?Friends,? he nodded. ?No matter what happens,? he added and Litni smiled.

~*~*~*~

Elisabeth called her troops to a halt on the top of the circle of mountains
that closed the Land of Sun of from the rest of the Dark Lands, peering down
into the mist covered valley, dotted with farms and small towns she spotted
a large black stone structure in the middle of the valley. They had been
marching for six days with very little rest and the Generals list of things
to do and say to Al?x had grown with each step of the way.
?Xander I swear that when I get my hands on you,? she muttered.
Willow stepped up next to her with a smile on her face and placed a hand on
her shoulder.
?Don?t worry Xander probably had a good reason for doing what he did,? she
said, her voice having a calming effect on her wife.
?I?m still going to cause him pain,? Elisabeth pouted.
?I?d be more worried about what you are going to say to Joyce,? Willow
said.
?Ugh! I haven?t even thought of that, what she?s happily married to Xander
and I have a little sister or something?? Elisabeth asked.
?I doubt it,? Cordelia said as she joined the pair. ?But there is no time
like the present to find out,? she added with a smile. Elisabeth nodded
firmly and turned towards the troops.
?This is it troops, we?ll eat at the Castle of Sun this night,? she
exclaimed and a cheer went up.
?Hmm, shouldn't be making promises like that?? Willow asked.
?Don?t worry I?m sending Cordy ahead with Tare to warn of our arrival and
he better have a feast prepared for his oldest friends or else??
?I know you?ll show him the meaning of pain,? Willow said with a smile.

-Next up-
Elisabeth has a long over due talk with her mother and the friction between
Willow and Al'x erupts again as the pair dispute the course of action Willow
is taking, also what will Litni's answer to Al'x question be and what will
Tark and Tare think about the emerging romance between Litni and Poet, be
there!