FIC: The Twilight War (Prologue: Scattering of Heroes)

["Cilia" <cilia@xxxxx>]

Hiya,
Okay I was going to wait before sending this out, but hey I'm an author and
thus I need feedback from time to time and it's been far too long since my
last fix. So without further ado, I present The Twilight War, yet another
installment in the Two Worlds saga.
Catch you on the flip
Cilia

The Twilight War
Cilia

Prologue: Scattering of Heroes

It began with the return of Tark and his companions from the Isle of Ages
with dire news. The Guardians would not lend their aid and not break their
age-old traditions. Theris Forestwalker, in rage at her council's betrayal
and refusal, had denounced them and had in turn been stripped of her title
and rank.
Armies were hurriedly prepared as Elisabeth rallied her Drow soldiers and
set out for Necris with Queen Piratess and Princess Stjar'a along with
Ranger Knight Cordelia Moondancer, with them of course traveled General Tark
and his companions.
With the coming war Elisabeth was forced to leave Willow her beloved wife
behind once again and they bid their farewells in the darkness of the night.
"I'll be back soon," Buffy whispered to Willow as they lay in
their bedchamber in Larken.
"Just promise me you won't get hurt," Willow pleaded. "I've seen
you wounded and bleeding too many times," she said.
"I'll be fine," Buffy said. "Then when this is done we can go
home."
"I would love to see June again, as a baby I mean," Willow said
with a small smile.
"Could we not go there now, all this gives me a headache and I
don't want to have a headache right now," Buffy said with a grin as she
pulled the covers up over them.

June Summers sat on the walls of Larken, gazing up at the star filled sky,
the sky she would never see again in her lifetime. Her stay here was drawing
to its end, her missions fulfilled and her duties to the future, her future,
had been completed. Still she'd miss this world. She'd miss Lor'a the elfin
warrior that had taught her so much and Gymli, Stjar'a and Cordelia, all of
them. Still she felt a longing for home, where she could be with her friends
and family that had seen her grow up and perhaps have some quality snuggle
time.
"You should always take your time during the eve of battle," Lor
'a said as she sat down next to her.
"Oh hi," June said absentmindedly. "Come to give me some last
minute advice?" she asked.
"No, none of that nature," Lor'a said. "You do not like being
away from your mother once the battle comes," Lor'a stated.
"I don't trust fate," June said simply.
"But you said so yourself, your duties here are done," Lor'a
stated. "Truly now you can allow things to take their course?" she asked
"Perhaps," June said thoughtfully.
"Well I'd better be going," Lor'a said. "Take care and perhaps
we'll meet out on the fields of battle," she said with a bow and before June
could answer the elf was gone and in her place stood Spike.
"Oh I'll get her for this," June growled.
"What? Are you unhappy to see me?" Spike asked with mock hurt in
his voice.
"Oh I'm never unhappy to see you Spike, mildly irritated
perhaps, but never unhappy," June said with a grin.
"You could leave before the battle starts, you know, open the
portal and leave," Spike suggested.
"Spike!" June exclaimed with horror. "They need every able
soldier they can get and you know that," she stated.
"Just stating it for the record," Spike explained. "I would
never leave Elisabeth and Willow behind, but you." he trailed off.
"Spike?" June asked. "Is there something. you aren't telling
me?"
"No of course not," Spike said firmly. "It's just that.." he
trailed off.
"William." June whispered and stood to face the undying prince.
"June. this." Spike stammered as June leaned towards him.

In a tent among the many thousands dotting the valley, General Tark Dragon
rested. His journey with the High Elf Theris had been a fruitless quest.
They had reached the Isle of Ages only to be led before the Guardians High
Council where they'd argued their case for a fortnight before being given a
flat out denial. The Guardians would not come to the Alliances aid. This was
of course not much of surprise, one did not rise through the ranks of Drow
society without gambling and he'd gambled and lost, not for the first time
and certainly not for last. Perhaps next time he'd stack the odds more in
his favor. Now he was back on familiar ground, the herald of war walked the
lands once again and his only concern would be to ensure a victory for his
people and glory for his house. Well almost his only concern, he prayed for
his daughter's safety each night and once he was in his cot he'd try to push
the images of Tare from his mind. He'd learnt the harsh lesson that love had
no place with a warrior ten years ago and he knew the Tare would be a risk
factor in the coming battles. He opened his eyes and his ears twitched. Then
he just let out a lengthy sigh.
"Enter Lady Tare," he said out loud and a shadow could be seen
standing up outside the tent.
"There truly is no fooling you, is there Tark?" Tare asked with
a grin.
"I'm too old," he chuckled as he sat up in his cot.
"Not that old," Tare said with a grin as she sat down on the
edge of the cot.
"Thank you," Tark said with his customary nod.
"Well preserved perhaps," Tare said with a grin and there was a
brief silence in which Tark seized the moment.
"Why have you come to see me this night Lady Tare?" he asked
sitting up fully and sitting down next to her.
"Oh don't be so formal Tark," Tare said. "I'm worried about
Litni.," she said. "The coming war, you and me, take your pick," she said.
"The battle is still beyond the dawn," Tark said. "And Litni is
alive and well, trust me," he said reassuringly.
"Well you sure know how to put a girl's fears to rest," Tare
said with a small smile. "Guess that just leaves one thing," she said in a
small voice.
"Lady." Tark started, but paused and placed his hand on Tare's.
"Tare, like I said, I'm old and chances are that I will die in battle at any
given time."
"I don't care," Tare said firmly.
"But I do," Tark stated firmly, his voice rising ever so
slightly. "I care about the Alliance, I care about my family and friends
and. and I care about you Lady Tare," he said as he regained control of his
emotions.
"Tark." Tare said as she slumped into his arms. "I'm scared,"
she said.
"So you have stated," Tark said as he shifted her in his arms.
"Do I have to leave?" she asked with a small smile at his ever
so calm and calculative demeanor.
After a moment's silence Tark answered. "No, Lady Tare, you need not leave,"
he said as he pulled her down onto the cot.

~*~*~*~

In the North a great army set out from the Land of Sun, their goal to reach
the Elfin Kingdom in time to aid the Alliance in their coming battle. Lead
by the aging hero Al'x Sun and his Lady Joyce, with them traveled Litni
Speed, champion of the Elves and daughter of the third house of Necris, and
her companions Poet and Light, brother and sister who had deserted from the
dark cause of the Shadows and joined the forces of light.
"This is not a good idea," Light stated as they were gathered on
a great ceremonial square with the rest of the Soldier's of Sun, awaiting
there General's arrival.
"If you have a better one I'm all ears," Litni said as she
fastened her cape.
"At least put on a hose or something, I don't want to have Poet
drooling for leagues," she said.
"I like it, the enchantment keeps me protected," Litni said with
a smirk. "So let Poet drool all he wants," Litni said with a giggle.
>From behind the balcony doors over looking the courtyard Al'x watched with a
small smile the friendly banter of the girls below.
"I'm feeling very, very old right now," Al'x groaned as her
watched the young threesome that had somehow fallen under his command for
this battle.
"Not if last night is anything to go by," Joyce said as she
playfully punched him in the shoulder and then adjusted his cape.
"Still, I wonder if there will ever come a time when the world
does not call upon my sword," Al'x said thoughtfully as he sheathed his
sword.
"The day will come, when you are old and grey and not able to
lift the thing, but then I guess we'd just roll you out onto the
battlefield, let you give one of your speeches and then roll you back in,"
Joyce said with a grin. "We're heroes dearest, it comes with the territory
that whenever there is danger we are the ones called upon and as good heroes
we answer the call," she explained.
"You know sometimes I forget," Al'x said. "Will you still be
there? I mean when I'm old with grey hair and a long beard?" he asked.
"Of course," Joyce said with a smile. "I'm with you now and you
should know that we don't age as fast as others," she said.
"Don't remind me," Al'x said. "Still it would be nice," he said.
"But now is not the time," he said firmly.
"Great here cometh the speech," Joyce groaned as they stepped
out onto the balconies and a great roar rose up among the men and women of
the Army of Sun, the speech was long and filled with fire. Enough so to
raise the spirits of even those in darkest despair, but it will not be told
now.

To be continued in Chapter One: On The Brink the war thunders closer with
each passing moment as Buffy and Willow prepare their armies, Buffy receives
a message of hope from surprise visitor and Spike gets a new look :)