-Two Worlds II (15)-

["Cilia" <cilia@xxxxx>]

Hey,
Well chapter 15 is here, but I'm a little iffy about this chapter for some
reason. So I won't be upset if it doesn't go over too well with you guys,
since I'm not really sure what the hell I'm doing here myself.
I'm experementing with storytelling for one thing, cause if you red it and
think this chapter chapter doesn't fit, then you should see the next one I'm
cooking up, but I promise you that by chapter 20 it will all make sense.
Also I'm going to try an resolve an ongoing plotline here so bear with me
and start a new one of course :)

NOTE: This isn't going out to BuffyLovesWillow, well cause it's gets a
little naughty at the end :)

Cilia

Title: Two Worlds II: The Heart of Darkness
Series: Royalty
Book: 4
Chapter Fifteen: Mothers and Daughters
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-
Cilia

Chapter Fifteen: Mothers and Daughters

Willow sat in her room and waited for Elisabeth to arrive, she dreaded the
conversation she knew would have to come between Joyce and her beloved wife,
but she knew Joyce and Elisabeth had some issues that needed to be worked
out before they could move on.
After Joyce had split her and Rose apart that fateful evening in Tharon
Willow had come to regard the Avatar as her mother figure, one she had never
really had back on Earth. Now the thought that that relationship might
jeopardize her reemerging passion and love for Elisabeth brought fear to her
heart.
?You ready?? snapped her back to reality and standing before her was a
picture of perfection. Elisabeth standing tall in her drow general?s
uniform, sleek and black, hugging her form yet covering almost every inch of
her skin, at her hip rested the sword they?d found during their explorations
of Vitor?s castle almost a life time ago and a red cape flowed down from her
shoulders and splashed down onto the dark stone floor and flowed around her
feet. A small smile tugged at the sides of her rose red lips.
?That?s a good way to catch flies,? she commented and the mage?s jaw
slammed shut, as she got to her feet, with a rustle of deep blue of her
robes.
?I thought you packed light,? Willow stated regaining her posture somewhat.
?I did and this is made of very, very, very thin material,? she said as she
took Willow?s hand and placed it on her hip.
?Feast?. guests of honor,? Willow mumbled as she proceeded to wrap her
hands around her wife?s waist, she felt her hand brush up against the
enchanted dagger Elisabeth kept with her, a gift form Al?x nine years prior.
?Well I?m feeling nostalgic,? Elisabeth whispered as she brought her lips
to Willow?s. There was a loud ahem from the door, which in an attempt to
sneak up on her wife, Elisabeth had left open, standing there was Tark, with
a grinning Tare on his arm. The Drow was decked out in a similar outfit to
Elisabeth?s, while Tare was dressed in a simpler version of her battle
armor. A white top replacing her armor, high white gloves replacing her
gauntlets, with her midriff exposed and a skirt that was wrapped around her
tightly and low bundled up skin boots showed her legs.
?Now I really feel underdressed,? Willow exclaimed.
?We are going to be late,? Tark said in his customary voice that neither
rose nor fell.
?Very well then,? Elisabeth said slipping on the mask of the General and
offered Willow her hand with a smile. Tark just nodded and Tare was fighting
against laughing at the sight of the Realms most feared commander being
ordered around by her second in command.
?Is Litni going to be wearing something similar?? Willow asked as the
couples walked towards the grand hall.
?Yeah Tare didn?t Litni come to you for dressing advice?? Elisabeth asked,
knowing that although it didn?t show the whole thing Litni seemed to be
having with the Shadow spy bothered Tark slightly.
?Just the skirt, she?s quite stubborn when it comes to dressing,? Tare
answered. ?Not that I didn?t try to persuade her mind you,? she added and
Elisabeth could see that Tark?s eyes dilated a fraction.
?Don?t worry old friend, she?ll be fine,? Elisabeth said as they entered
the grand hall.

Litni was shaking in her mirror polished boots, being that she was on duty
for the duration of the feast, she?d had a good excuse to refuse Tare?s help
in getting dressed and she failed to see the point in wearing something as
thin and flimsy as her friend had suggested. Now entering the grand hall
holding onto Poet?s arm she felt very much like the ugly duckling, cause
every head in the room turned as they entered. The announcer proclaimed
their arrival as.
?Litni Speed, heiress of the Third House and Poet Agent of the United Dark
Lands Army!?
She spotted the General and Willow sitting at the high table and motioned
for Poet to follow her, his bare feet made no sound as they touched down on
the black stone while hers made a clicking sound that seemed to echo through
the hall.
?General Elisabeth Summers, meet Poet,? Litni introduced as she brought the
enemies together. Poet bowed before the General with his hands outstretch
and palms outwards.
?I thank you for letting me retain my honor,? he said a voice that hummed
through the hall. Litni tried to hide the smile that was forming on her
lips, but the smile died once she spotted Tark and Tare watching the
proceedings with interest.
The General looked confused, only for split second, before composing herself
and giving the spy a firm nod.
?Litni tells me that you have given thought to aiding our cause,? she said
in a firm voice.
?Yes, I have already shared my knowledge with the Lady Sun,? Poet said,
keeping a calm face and a gentle smile.
?The Lady? Sun?? Elisabeth asked and there was a loud bang as the announcer
beat his staff against the ground and announced.
?The Lord and Lady Sun!?
Al?x and Joyce entered in full honor, but in stark contrast to each other,
Al?x in his white garments with his flowing golden cape, while Joyce sported
the black of an Avatar, with a crimson cape that was held up by a young
girl, with hair as black as coal and piercing red-brown eyes and Elisabeth
swallowed a lump in her throat.

She didn?t say anything throughout the feast, only glanced occasionally at
Litni and Poet, and the raven-haired girl. Willow noticed her wife?s
discomfort and placed her hand on top of hers and for this first time in
four years Elisabeth felt the familiar brush of her wife?s mind against
hers.
What?s the matter? Willow asked and the words echoed through her mind.
That girl, she?s familiar? Elisabeth thought back, happy that Willow had
once again chosen to share the bond with her.
I don?t know and Xander and I haven?t exactly been talking these past
years, Willow explained, but Elisabeth could sense something underneath the
statement.
Look she?s leaving, Elisabeth?s thoughts raced, as Joyce carried the now
sleeping child out of the hall. One last image passed over the link before?
?Don?t do anything rash,? Willow said when Elisabeth stood up to follow.
?Is it true?? Elisabeth asked,
?Yes it is, but she swore me to secrecy,? Willow said in a low voice. ?I
couldn?t tell you,? she added. Elisabeth knelt down besides her wife and
took her hands and kissed them. ?I love you and I know that you would never
betray my mother,? she said as she smiled up at Willow.
?Go, you two need to talk,? Willow said.
?Those nerves of steel remember,? Elisabeth, said in a small voice.
?I?ll be waiting in your? our room,? Willow said with a smile as Elisabeth
stood up, placed a kiss on her lips and walked out of the hall.
?Things okay with you two?? a deep voice asked and Willow smiled as she
looked up into the smiling face of her oldest friend.
?Have a seat Xander, we?ve got a lot to talk about,? she said and patted
the seat next to her.

Elisabeth waited outside the door of the room she knew Joyce had taken the
girl into, she waited until the door opened and Joyce stepped out, closing
the door gently behind, she waited before the door was closed.
?Why didn?t you tell me mom?? she asked, causing her mother to spin around
to face her.
?Not many people can do that you know,? Joyce said.
?Don?t change the subject mom. Why didn?t you tell me?? Elisabeth asked,
more firmly this time around.
?Not here,? Joyce said as she looked around and took her daughter?s hand
and led her towards the indoor gardens. ?Why don?t you sit down,? she
offered.
?I?d rather stand,? Elisabeth said.
?Suite yourself,? Joyce said and sat down on the edge of the small raised
pool, running her fingers over the surface of the pond she started to tell
the story.
?Three years after you left. I became pregnant? it wasn?t planned or
anything like that, it just happened. That?s when Al?x started building the
castle here, he knew that this would be one of the few safe places in the
Realm if an all out war broke out, something about the lines of Order
intersecting here. The birth of our daughter also made him very determined,
he wanted to end the war either through negotiations or through a decisive
battle. As always his ideas clashed with the Royal ones, so we moved here,?
she explained. Few know about her, since you see? we?ve made some powerful
enemies and??
?What?s her name?? Elisabeth asked.
?Angelica Sun,? Joyce answered.
?Who knows?? Elisabeth asked, as she sat down on the edge of the pool.
?Our friends know and most of those who played a part at Necris, Stjar?a,
Amy, Piratess, King Einar and Vitor,? Joyce answered. ?But she must be kept
a secret,? she stressed.
?Al?x had a dream didn?t he?? Elisabeth asked.
?The last one yes, he saw danger for a child from our family and that?s
when he decided that it was time to pass the mantle,? Joyce answered.
?He gave his dreams to Litni didn?t he?? Elisabeth asked. ?She?s to replace
him as champion??
?Maybe, maybe not, you can?t really be sure when it comes to these sort of
things,? Joyce answered.
There was a long silence between mother and daughter, before Elisabeth spoke
up.
?Can I see her tomorrow?? she asked.
?Of course, she?s your sister,? Joyce said with a smile. Elisabeth smiled
and pulled her mother into a fierce hug.
?I?ve missed you,? she said as she closed her eyes tightly.
?And I?ve missed you honey? how?s my granddaughter??
?June?s doing okay, she?s growing so fast,? Elisabeth said.
?And Spike how?s he doing?? Joyce asked and Elisabeth couldn?t help but to
smile at her mother?s concern for the vampire.
?Luna died,? she said. ?But he?s carrying on, he?s strong and Joyce Junior
will help him through it,? she added.
?Poor boy,? Joyce muttered as Elisabeth let go off her mother.
?Mom he?s pushing three hundred and he survived Drusilla and he will survive
this and Auntie June won?t let him kill himself,? she stated.
?Well he?ll always be a boy to me,? Joyce said firmly.
?There is one more thing,? Elisabeth said.
?What is it honey??
?Thank you for looking after Willow while I was gone,? she said with a
smile.
?So you two kissed and made up, damn it I hate it when he?s right,? Joyce
nodded with a smile.
?She?s waiting for me back in our room,? Elisabeth said with a small smile.
?Then go, god only knows when you?ll get the chance to be with her again,?
Joyce urged. Elisabeth stood up slowly and then looked down at her mother,
who now looked younger than ever.
?We?ll talk later okay,? she said and placed a hand on her shoulder. Joyce
looked up and smiled at her daughter.
?I?m going to be around for a long time sweetie, but I don?t think you
should keep Willow waiting,? she said with a smile. Elisabeth groaned
inwardly at her mother?s thinking, leave it to your rejuvenated mother to
push you into reconciling with your estranged wife.

Elisabeth braced herself before entering her room, feeling the familiar
tinge of fear and excitement she let exhaled and pushed the door open.
?How did it go?? Willow asked as she looked up from underneath her hood
where she was lighting a candle. The only reply was the thud of the door as
it closed. ?Is there something wrong Buffy?? she asked as she walked, no
sauntered up to her gaping wife.
?I? uh? didn?t expect this,? Elisabeth answered as she took in the dimly
lit room, rose covered bed and the candles surrounding it, but most
important was the gown Willow, her wife and the mother of her child as
strangely as it sounded, was wearing, it was a thin, hooded, green gown. The
very same one she?d worn the night they fought the Warlock on the streets of
San Francisco, the night they had finally broken through the walls around
their hearts. It clung to her form and Elisabeth could see that the last
nine years had been good to her and that the room was slightly chilly.
?Well you know me,? Willow said with a smile as she loosened the clasps
that held Elisabeth?s cape in place and it fell to the floor, pooling around
their feet.
?I?m? not so sure,? Elisabeth stammered as Willow slowly but methodically
started to unbutton her uniform top.
?Let me refresh your memory then,? Willow said with an impish smile as she
left the top halfway open and wrapped her arms around her wife?s neck.
?Oh? I think it?s all coming back to me now,? Elisabeth said as she bent
her head down and kissed her.

*~*~*~*

Litni looked at the man lying next to her, not much older then she was and
her world was spinning, around the room clothes and armor was scattered
around, it had been flung carelessly away in the intense passion that had
overtaken them. Her mind always searching the reason, for the hidden meaning
just like Tark had taught her but couldn?t pinpoint the place in time, the
singular moment, where this had all begun. Maybe it was back in the Great
Forest, maybe when they?d fought on the streets of Agnoria or the banks of
the river, or maybe when they fought on the training field shortly after
their arrival. Deciding to stop thinking and just enjoy the moment which she
?d found herself in, but even as she snuggled closer to her newfound lover,
her mind couldn?t help but to play on the strategic benefits and faults to
her being here, in this single perfect moment, with Poet.

In the central tower of Castle Sun Theris and Angel looked at each for the
first time and on the table between them rested a pair of white fencing
gloves, with a green stone set in one of them. Theris raised her hand and
Angel fingers entwined with hers. As the golden glove started to surround
them the doors leading into the room opened slowly as Cordelia Moondancer
stepped into the room.
?Well they?ve done it and destiny has begun to unravel and you two are
still going to go through with this,? she stated.
?She?ll need all the help she can get Cordelia,? Angel said, but his eyes
were firmly locked with Theris?.
?Forgive me for doubting your altruistic intentions,? Cordelia retorted.
?Enough Cordelia, this needs to be done and whether my, Liam?s or your
personal feelings play a part in this doesn?t matter,? Theris said firmly.
?Very well,? Cordelia nodded and placed her hand on top of the glove. ?But
I still think this is a bad idea,? she added as stream of golden light
flowed from the tree and when it was over Angel was gone.

TBC...