Chapter 5: The Night
Buffy strode through the halls of the palace with Willow hot on her heels. "Buffy please there's nothing you can." Willow was silenced by a piercing glare. "She may have slept with demon and I'm cool with that, but this is personal," Buffy spat as she strode on. "Maybe they're not doing anything." Willow trailed off. Laughter could be heard coming from Al'x room and it only got louder as they approached. "That doesn't sound like 'nothing' to me." Buffy stated. The door was flung open as Al'x jumped into the hall, naked from the waist up and wielding a sword, followed shortly by Joyce as the parried down the hall, never noticing Buffy or Willow. "Like I said nothing," Willow said with smile as the sparing pair turned down another corridor. "But, but." Buffy stammered pointed after them. "Come now lets get you to bed," Willow said still smiling as she guided the stunned Slayer back to their room.
Joyce and Al'x fought on down the winding corridors of the palace, earning nothing more then glances from the beings they past. This was nothing new in the court of King Vitor warrior were warriors and that didn't just turn off, also he fiery aura of both fighters gave a clear sign, to those who could see it, that they should not interrupt. The fight didn't stop until they stood on the palace walls, both breathing heavily and leaning on their swords. They just glared at each other. "I'm not going to," Joyce said in a labored breath as she tried to lift her sword, "let you win," she finished, lifting the sword a foot from the ground before dropping it again. "Well you've gotta be able," Al'x said and tried to raise his sword, " to lift that sword first," he said and laid the sword down again. "I could defeat you so easily. You know that don't you?" Joyce asked as they slumped down against the wall. "You're in control that's good," Al'x answered and looked at her. "How can you be so sure?" she asked looking up. There was fire in her eyes. Barely visible and subdued, but the embers never went out. "I won't let you do that," he stated as he felt a warm hand no his chest. "Why not, it's not that complicated." "I'm your mentor now." "Doesn't seem to bother Stjar'a and Cordelia." "But you're also Buffy's mother," he said looking into the eyes that by now where blazing with the inner fire. Al'x felt something collide with his cheek and heard the loud smack. Next thing he saw was Joyce storming away. He pulled himself up from the cold stone. The price one pays for being in control of his urges. It wasn't that he didn't want Joyce. He may have given up many things in the past seven years, but he was still a man and she was even more desirable after the fire in her had reshaped her already admirable body. Still the time wasn't right. He hadn't had a vision since just after returning home, but the one he had just had while fighting Joyce had only served to strengthen his resolve. The time would come, fire and ice would follow first, but the time would come.
* * * * *
Willow lead Buffy back to their room. Grinning all the way at her wife's misplaced wrath. She knew that Al'x would never go after Joyce, although she 'd been de-aged by the effects of the 'change'. No Al'x would first ask for permission from Buffy and then Buffy would try to kill him. She laughed. "What's so funny?" Buffy asked as she started laughing. "Nothing just thinking," She said and covered her mouth. "That Al'x would first ask my permission before shagging mom," Buffy stated. "How did you." She trailed off. "I know you little witch, inside and out," Buffy stated as she started tickling said witch. Buffy pulled Willow into their room with feral grin on her face, then proceeded to disrobed her with smooth practiced movements, allowing the deep blue dress to fall to the floor revealing the smooth pale skin she so loved to touch. "Now about that ice-cream spell."
* * * * *
An elderly, gray haired, elf watched as King Vitor kissed Amy goodnight outside her room. Their night of dancing was at an end. "I'll see you tomorrow?" Amy asked. "A horde of dragons couldn't stop me," Vitor answered as he placed a gentle kiss on her lips. "Goodnight," She said shyly before closing the door. Vitor smiled, it was good to be the king. He turned and strolled down the corridor. The elf followed him for a while, before catching up with him. "My liege moment of your time," the elderly elf greeted. "Don't say it Tarnor," Vitor said as he turned around a corner. "The royals are worried," Tarnor said as they entered the throne room. Vitor sighed, still he'd known this would happen. "May I ask why?" Vitor asked as he stood in front of the throne. "Well she's human and." "And what?" Vitor asked and sat down in the throne. "Since the death of the queen you've shunned away from female company and now this." "What are you getting at Tarnor?" "Well if you're seeking female companionship there are ways, discreet ways that don't involve such a public display," the elderly elf said. "You think this about sexual pleasures?" Vitor asked and stared down his advisor. "Well isn't it sir? After all she is human and what other reasons would you have for consorting with a female that's not of royal blood?" "Tarnor you're getting old. So set in the ways of what was." Vitor said with laugh. "Excuse me sir?" "Did it ever occur to you that I might be doing this for the sake a friendship?" "So you're not." the elderly elf trailed off in surprised voice. "I hadn't intended on it and although I am tempted I'm well aware of my stature and the obligations that come with it. I should know you taught them to me," Vitor explained. "You see old friend," Vitor stood up and placed a hand around his advisors shoulders, "when Amy first came to this realm she didn't see the beauty." "So you helped her see all 'your' kingdom offered," the elderly elf stated as realization dawned on his face. "Now go to bed Tarnor." Vitor said with a smile as he padded him on the back. "So this is nothing but friendship then?" "Nothing but friendship," Vitor confirmed. "Good night sir." "Good night Tarnor." Vitor watched as the gray haired elf left the throne room before sitting back down. "Nothing but friendship," he sighed and rubbed his face. "Maybe if I tell myself that often enough I'll actually start to believe it."
Dreams can be good when there's nothing more to be had.
Vitor stood up and looked around the throne room, dreams weren't enough and he knew it. When you live the long life of an elf you come to realize that time is something you have in plenty and you can wait for your dreams to come true, but this one would turn to dust if he waited to long.
* * * * *
Cordelia lay on her back staring up into the twins moons. Stjar'a rested on her shoulder and the grass felt comfortable against her skin. She knew that they should get up and return to the palace, but just lying here under the moons Stjar'a so loved felt so natural and peaceful. So she gave into sleep as she wrapped her arms around her lover. The dreams came, they always did.
She stood in the center of round clearing surrounded by the tall trees Stjar'a had told her grew in her native forest. Her hands traced the shape of her ears and she inspected a silvery lock of her hair. She smiled here, in the dreams, she was accepted, they were accepted and noone saw anything wrong with them being together. Still the sadness that this was just a dream lingered, but all to often the dream is all you have.
* * * * *
Amy stood and stared out her window out over the forests below and watched the moons as the slowly moved across the night sky. She heard when Joyce returned to her room. The slamming of the door could be heard through out the entire floor as it echoed down the hallways. She didn't be attention to it, her mind was still on her elfin king. She'd come here looking for peace of mind and a peace of heart. Under Willow tutelage she was sure she'd find peace of mind, but her heart was always the problem. No sooner was she forgetting Wes, only to have his face replaced by another with the knowledge that it could never be more then the friendship they now shared. But sometimes the dream is all you have.
* * * * *
Joyce punched the stone wall again and again, her knuckles didn't bleed. She wanted to bleed.She wanted to feel the pain, but it didn't come. She screamed with rage as she looked around the room and started breaking up the furniture. Throwing them into the hearth. She then pointed her ring at the pile of wood. "I command you to speak." She ordered in a low voice menacing voice. The fire leapt from her hand and ignited the wood. A column of fire rose out of the hearth towards her and a flaming face emerged. "You summoned me?" It thundered. "Why did you do this to me?" she demanded. "You were chosen, destined from birth. The mother of a legend shall become a legend," The fire was quickly dying in the hearth. "But I didn't want this," she stated. "But you have it," The voice said and disappeared as the fire died. Joyce stood still and looked around the room. There was a pile of stones on the floor where she had hit the wall. She lay down against the cold stone floor, not that it matter she was never cold these days. She'd heard of an expedition leaving for the borders. She made up her mind that night that she 'd asked to go with them. Only problem was the leader of it.