Chapter 6: Parting Ways
Buffy fastened the cloak around her mothers neck. "You sure about this?" she asked. "Positive sweetie, I need to get away for a while," Joyce said with a smile. "Just promise me you'll be back in time for the baby's birth," Buffy said. "Would miss it for the world," Joyce said. "Mom I hate to ask you this, but are you and Al'x." "No we're not. He has remarkable self control," Joyce answered. "It's okay if you know. do it. I won't be mad," Buffy said. "Did Willow talk you into this?" Joyce asked with a raised eyebrow. "Not exactly, but she did you use her tongue," Buffy answered and then covered her mouth. "Too much information dear," Joyce said as she took the reins from the stable boy. The horse was a red mare, with a white flame shaped spot on her head. "You do know how to ride one of these things?" Buffy asked. "Don't worry dear I'll be fine," Joyce said and then mounded that horse in a fluent motion. "Try not to get hurt," Buffy said. "I'll do that," Joyce said with a smile. "And watch out for Al'x. I know he's all grown up now, but he'll always be Xander to me," Buffy said. "I'll try not to tire him too much," Joyce said and spurred the horse on. "Eww!" Buffy exclaimed as the mental image surfaced.
Willow leaned against a low wall as she watched Al'x prepare. "Are you sure this is wise?" she asked in her Wicca voice, calm and distant. "She'll learn more on the road than her in the castle," Al'x answered in full warrior mode. "I know that, but things are a bit tense between you two right now," Willow stated. "All the more reason. The trust must be rebuild," Al'x stated. "I liked you better as Xander," Willow stated with a grin. "Me too," Al'x answered as the façade slipped away. "Just promise me that you'll be careful. She's very confused right now," Willow said and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'll be careful," Al'x stated. "You better or Buffy will make you feel sorry that you ever came back," Willow said with a grin. "I've been through a war and still I fear the wrath of Buffy," Al'x stated. "That's actually a bit kinky when you think about it," Willow said. "Take care Willow," Al'x said and kissed her cheek. "You too Xander, you too," Willow said. She watched as he walked over to the stables and then emerged with a black horse and his commands could be heard around the courtyard. "Lets move out," he shouted and reared the horse around, winked at her and the group of men raced through the gate. "Willow you okay?" Buffy asked as she grasped her hand. "Yeah, just reflecting on the future," Willow stated and Buffy gave her a look. "Wicca stuff," Willow explained, she'd noticed two things. The admiring look Joyce had given Al'x and a dark shadow that had only lasted a moment.
Stjar'a sat on a branch and looked over the forest. Cordelia was at the market, shopping of course. Some things never change. She smiled at the memory of the previous night. "Stjar'a?" The mentioned of the name startled her and she fell of her perched onto the ground. She shook her head and focused on the face of the person leaning over her. "Father?," she asked as she sat up. "Afraid so," Sironis answered. "Mother sent you didn't she?" Stjar'a asked and stood up. "Afraid so," he nodded. "Well I'm not changing my mind," she stated and placed her hand firmly on her hips. "Wouldn't dream of it. It's just that you gave your mother quiet a shock, you left for a different world and then return with a human ast' one," he said calmly. "And the fact that she's not of royal blood has nothing to do with mother's disapproval?" Stjar'a asked calmly. "She's human and you know our family's history," he stated. "Yes I know of our role in the elfin/human wars, but that doesn' t change how I fell towards Cordy," she stated. "She means that much to you?" he asked calmly. "Yes, she was my friend in a new world, she taught me so much about human nature and she's willing to learn the ways of our people. Something nobody except for Al'x has been willing to undertake in recent memory," Stjar'a said calmly. "She sounds like a very special person," he stated. "She is," Stjar'a said with a distant look in her eyes. "I would like to meet her," he stated. That snapped Stjar'a out off her trance. "You want to." "Meet her yes. I know I can't change your mind, you've too much of your mother in you for that. So I have no choice, but to try and accept the girl," he stated. "Thank you, thank you, thank you." Stjar'a exclaimed as she flung herself around her father's neck.
Amy walked through the halls of the palace. That last training session with Willow had taken it's toll, thirty broken vials from the levitation training, a minor fire from a fireball spell gone wrong and a bruise or two from hitting the floor after loosing control of her own levitation. All in all this was not a good day. Then it brightened as she ran straight into. "Vitor!" she exclaimed and ran up to the king. "Felling better I see?" he stated with a grin. "Yep, Willow has this killer hangover cure," she stated with a smile. Vitor looked at this girl in front of him. Her smile, the slightly out of control hair, from a failed spell no doubt and her eyes. To hell with tradition, he thought to himself. "Vitor you in there" Amy asked and the waved a hand in front of his face. "Would you to me the pleasure of dinning with me this evening?" he blurted out, not the way he'd meant it and surely not something one with his experience would do. Amy just stared. "Say yes, please," he pleaded with wide golden eyes and Amy started giggling. "What?" he asked. "I'll say yes, if you promise to put the puppy dog look away," she said. "Puppy dog look?" he asked with no small amount of confusion. Amy did the same thing. "I did that?" he exclaimed as laughter erupted from his throat. "Well without the pout," Amy said. "The Royal hall, after sundown?" he asked. "Fine by me," Amy said. Vitor looked at her for moment and then did something incredibly impulsive for somebody as old as him. He stole a kiss. "Tonight then," he said and walked away. There was silence for a moment and then a joyous screech as Amy raced for her room.
Chapter 7: Another Day, another Night
The brown dirt road that stretched on into the horizon and the small scout group was flanked on both sides by the tall tress of the great forest. "You holding up okay?" Al'x asked as he road next to Joyce in the front. "Fine, but something tells me I won't be a happy camper in the morning," she answered. The hood of her cloak was pulled back thus revealing her features, which were smoother and more youthful then they had been not so long ago "You'll get used to in a day or two," he answered, his plain brown and green clothing covered the hard dragon skin armor he wore underneath and on a day like this he didn't look much older then he had been when he'd arrived in the realm seven years ago. "I really wish I didn't have to wear so much black though," she stated. "Well it's tradition. I wear green which identifies me as a warrior, Willow dark blue 'cause she has mage powers and you black well let' s just say it's clear message not to mess with you," he said with a grin. "But what to the white stripes stand for?" she asked she said. The rim of her cloak and the sutures on her clothing where lined with white lines. "They signal that you're on the side of the light," he explained. "So if I run into somebody dressed in black with no stripes I should run?" she asked calmly. "No, you fight him or her and trust me you won't have a choice," he stated. "That's a nice thought for the road," she stated in a flat tone of voice. "Don't worry too much though, there aren't that much of people like you around," he said in a lighter tone. "That's good to hear, now I heard something about you and dragons." Their voices faded away as they road along the brown dirt road in the afternoon sun.
Cordelia was running like wild around hers and Stjar'a's considerably large room abd the servants scurried away from her path as she past. "Cordy slow down, please your scaring the servants," Stjar'a said as she straightened her dress. "I can't, too nervous," Cordy blurted. "My father just wants to meet you, no biggie," Cordelia froze, turned around slowly and smiled. "Say that again," she asked. "What no biggie?" Stjar'a asked a little confused. "Soon you'll be cursing like Spike," Cordelia said and kissed her cheek. "Not bloody likely," Stjar'a stated in firm British accented voice. "Stop it," Cordelia growled. "Make me," the elf teased. There was a knock on the door. "I would love to, but you're father is here and I'd hate for him to get the wrong idea," Cordelia said and strode confidently towards the door. "Remember to bow," Stjar'a whispered after her. It had pleased the young elf to no ends that Cordelia had agreed to go play along with the elfin customs. "Lord Sironis welcome to our home," Cordelia stated and bowed before the guest. The old elf nodded calmly before stepping over the threshold. Stjar'a gave Cordelia a small smile as she hugged her father. The first battle was won.
In another part of the castle, in the Royal Hall to be precise, Amy and Vitor sat at the long table. Trying and failing to hold up conversation across the twenty meter long table. "This is ridiculous," Amy stated and stood up. "Couldn't agree more," Vitor answered as they met at the center of the table. "You could here me?" Amy asked. "One of the things that elves have above humans is superior hearing," he stated, "that and I was really listening hard," he added. Amy blushed slightly and looked down at her plate. "Looking too?" she asked innocently. "Even harder," he stated. They ate their meal in comfortable silence after that. Old eyes watch from the shadows.
Somewhere in the great forests that made up King Vitor's kingdom of elves Joyce lay and stared up into the folio. She couldn't sleep, or more to the point she didn't need to sleep. She wasn't that hungry either. There group had been joined by a group of traveling moon elves, Stjar'a's people, as soon as the sun had set and now she could hear their singing echoing in the trees. "Why don't you join them?" a soft voice asked from a near by tree. "Not my place," she answered. "Have you tried?" the voice asked. "Don't have to. I know I scare them," she answered and closed her eyes. "What about the human that leads them. He doesn't seem to be afraid of you?" the voice inquired. "We had a misunderstanding," she answered. "What kind of a misunderstanding?" the voice asked. "I won't answer that unless you show yourself," Joyce stated. "Very well then," the voice said. Joyce sat up and watched as youthful looking female elf emerged from the tree. She was dressed in a green flowing robes and her long dark hair flowed like a river down her back. "You're a High elf?" Joyce stated. Read up on the beings of the realm had been something that Al'x had instructed them all to do they night they arrives, to help avoid misunderstandings and panic attacks most likely. "That I am," the elf stated. "I thought High elves didn't mingle with other beings?" Joyce asked. "We don't usually, but that's no the issue here," the elf stated and sat down. "It's nothing really," Joyce stated off hand. "You too are older than you look," the elf stated. "Well he's not that much younger," Joyce stated. "Then what stand in your way?" the elf asked. "For starters," Joyce said, opened her hand and a small ball of fire appeared. "You're an avatar," the elf stated calmly. "That's only half of it, he's also my daughters best friend," Joyce said. "And does she disagree with the relationship?" "I wouldn't call it that, but no she doesn't," "Then go to him," the elf said and when Joyce turned to face her again she was gone. "What's your name?" she called. The last words of the high elf were carried on the wind. "Thereis and I'll be around."
Buffy sat on the castle wall and she felt older, not in bad way mind you, just older, more wiser. Amy had burst through their door late in the afternoon and announcing that Vitor had asked her out and the kissed her. Willow of course had smiled at this, she always did enjoy watching romance between her friends and Buffy enjoyed watching her wife smile, but something in the back of her mind send of warning bells. Maybe it was the whole mess with Wes back home, or the fact that Vitor was the king and an elf. She had noticed the glares that were being thrown at Stjar'a and Cordy and feared what action might be taken against Amy. "You worry too much," Willow said in a gentle voice. "I didn't here you come," Buffy stated with a smile. "That was the plan," "Levitation?" Buffy asked. "You must have been really out off it. No I made the air stop moving and therefore no sound," Willow answered. "You can do that?" Buffy asked. "Here yes, but I doubt I could pull something like that off back home," Willow answered. "True there is something about this world," Buffy stated as she picked up a small stone and a crushed it "It's more magical that much is obvious. I think it's because so many people believe in the magic," Willow said in a thoughtful voice. "We're getting old aren't we?" Buffy asked with a smile and dusted of her hands. "Maybe a little," Willow answered. "You think Cordy and Stjar'a are doing okay?" "They're fine it's Amy and the King I'm worried about," Willow said with a grin. Buffy gave Willow the look and then smiled. The night sky was clear, it had been so for the past nights, never cloud in the sky. "I wish it would rain," Buffy muttered. "I can do that," Willow exclaimed and her eyes lit up. "Wills don't," Buffy stated. "Just a small one," Willow pleaded. Buffy looked at Willow's lit up face. It was at times like this that it became so clear to her why she loved her wife. Her face was now that of the girl she'd met what seemed like a lifetime ago, the girl that became her friend and then stuck with her through the worst of times and the best of time. "Just promise to keep it small and don't strike anyone down okay," Buffy said with a smile. "Hold on," Willow said as her smile grew. "Spirits of wind. Spirits of water I call upon you." Willow's chanting rolled into a soft hum. The wind started to pick up, the gentle breeze came a little stiffer, then the first drops of rain and then bigger drops still. Buffy held out her hands laughing, the palace guards looked up from their posts as the gentle rain landed on their helmets. "Wills you're something else," Buffy said in between laughs. "I know," Willow said as she lowed her hands. "You do know how to make this stop right?" Buffy asked with a raised eyebrow. "Of course," Willow said with a flick of wrist and the rain was gone. "Impressive," Buffy nodded. "Now lets get you inside and out off those wet clothes," Willow suggested with an impish smiled. Buffy raised an eyebrow before grabbing Willow and running back inside
Stjar'a watch with awe as Cordy laid the charm on her father. She would shamelessly admit that she had been more then a little nervous at the prospect of her father meeting Cordy, but now things were turning out quite well as Cordy went into another battle story. "So Buffy picks this guy up and smashes his head though the ceiling, then pulls him down and out the window. In the meantime Spike is leaning over the counter trying to convince the bartender into standing up and serve him a Guinness," Cordelia finished. "So did he get his ale?" Sironis asked calmly the girl was quite the bard and from what his daughter had told a fierce fighter. When the need arose. "No, had to get it himself cause the bartender fainted when Spike pulled out a stake and nailed a vampire to the counter," Cordelia stated. "You're a remarkable young woman, has anyone told you that?" Sironis stated bluntly. "Father!" Stjar'a exclaimed and Cordelia blushed. "I'm merely stating the obvious my dear. I haven't heard such vivid storytelling in ages," Sironis said and raised his glass. "I just tell them like I saw them," Cordelia said as she tried to hide her blush. "Well the candles are burning low," Sironis said and placed his glass on the table. "Come back sometime and I'll tell you about the time Joyce made Wesley wet his pants," Cordelia said, clamped her mouth and then giggled. "I should be getting her to bed," Stjar'a said as she walked her father to the door. "She's a fine woman Stjar'a," Sironis stated as she fastened his cape. "So what will you tell mother?" Stjar'a asked. "I will tell her that your ast'one is a fine bard and that if trained right could easily receive knighthood," he said. "You've been spying," Stjar'a reprimanded her father. "Observing, but never the less I see no fault in her," he said. "Thanks that mean allot to us," Stjar'a said and kissed her father's cheek. "Goodnight my girl," he said. "Goodnight daddy." "Did we win?" Cordelia asked when Stjar'a returned to the table. "California: 1 The Great Forest: O" Stjar'a answered with a smile
Chapter 8: Darkness Falling
Buffy and Willow had decided to spent the day exploring the castle and it was turning out to be a bit more difficult then they had expected "I'm telling you Buffy! We are lost," Willow exclaimed. "No were not, the big room with the armors is just around this corner," Buffy said and as they turned into a large hall. "The dinning hall," Willow muttered sarcastically. "At least it's not the same one we walked into the last time," Buffy offered with a nervous smile. "Why don't I just teleport us back?" Willow asked and raised her hand. "No," Buffy stated and grabbed Willow's hand, "we'll just find our way back the old fashioned way," she said. "You mean stubble around for hours?" Willow asked with a raised eyebrow. "Yep," Buffy exclaimed and leaned against the wall. The next thing they knew they were spinning around and then came to a halt with slam. "Wills you okay?" Buffy asked. "Think so," Willow stated as she fumbled around in the dark. "Could you give us some light?" Buffy asked. "Sure and by the way I hate trapdoors," Willow said and raised her hand. "Let there be light," she thundered. "Being a little dram." Buffy's voice trailed off as she looked over the place they had found themselves in.
Somewhere on the borders of the Kingdom of Elves Al'x walked over the burned ground. Joyce stood at the edge of the forest clenching and unclenching her fist as she desperately fought to control her rage. His troops were dead and his mind flashed back to the moment the fight had broken out. They had just broken clear of the edge of the great forest, they had been traveling for a week and the moral was good, the elves had even risked talking to Joyce. Then it came like a dark tidal wave a hoard goblins and a few ogres. They appeared to be coming straight from the mountains in the east. Still there was no logic to the charge, but they fought and his troops were killed of one by one. Then Joyce had screamed, the fire within her once again flared to life and the field was engulfed in flames. It had spread out from the center of the battle in a great ball of fire that engulfed both sides, only he had lived. His clothes burned of, revealing the near impenetrable dragon hide armor underneath. Al'x looked up at the red sky. It would be dark soon. "Why!?" Joyce screamed. Theris watched from where she floated on the wind above the burned battle field. Al'x had of course known about the high elf following them through the forest since the night she had revealed herself to Joyce. "Calm yourself Joyce," Theris said in her calm voice and gently lowered herself to the ground. "But I killed them?!" Joyce stated. "No you didn't, we were the last three standing when you used your flame," Theris explained calmly. "How can you be so sure?" Joyce asked. "Everything is connected and high elves sense that connection," Theris explained. "So you knew they were dead?" Joyce asked and the fire in her eyes fated. "Yes and that there was nothing we could do for them," Theris said in low voice. "Are you both quite done," Al'x said in a firm voice. Joyce looked at Theris, then over the high elves shoulder at Al'x and nodded her head. She stood up and dusted off. "Where to we go from here?" Joyce asked. "We complete the mission," Al'x stated and looked to the mountains. "Great," Joyce muttered as she turned her gaze towards the mountains. "Lets get going then," the elf stated. "Are elves always this." Joyce trailed off. "They are not easily angered," Al'x stated.
Stjar'a sat on the branch of her favorite tree in the forest and dangled her feet. There was a rustle of leaves as someone came jumping from branch to branch. "Star you here?" Cordelia called out as she landed in a tree close by. "Over here you Cordy," Stjar'a called out with a smile. That little nickname had been invented last night after she had told her lover the meaning of her name. She looked up when Cordelia gently landed on a branch above her. "You're getting good at this," Stjar'a commented. "Still fall down though," Cordelia said and rubbed her butt. "So any reason for you racing through the woods like that?" Stjar'a asked. "The king wants to see us," Cordelia explained as she allowed her to drop down to Stjar'a's branch. "Lets go then," Stjar'a stated and seemingly floated down to the ground and landed without a sound, Cordelia followed with a little bit more noise. "Any details?" Stjar'a asked as they raced through the forest. "None, but I've got a feeling that has something to do with those raids we've been hearing about," "Have Al'x and Joyce reported back then?" Stjar'a asked. "No, they were last seen heading towards the mountains in the east," Cordelia answered. "You really keep up with all the rumors don't you?" Stjar'a asked. "Want to hear what Amy and the King did last night?" Cordelia asked with a grin as she increased her speed. "No you don't," Stjar'a muttered and increased her speed. "Hey," Cordelia shouted as a near blur streaked past her. When Cordelia arrived at the doors leading into the throne room Stjar'a was there leaning against the wall. "Been here long?" Cordelia asked as she stole a kiss. "Shorter then the last time," Stjar'a answered as she knocked on the large doors. The doors opened to reveal King Vitor talking to his advisors. "Remember to kneel," Stjar'a whispered as they walk towards the throne. As they were halfway to the throne the doors burst open and soldier ran into the throne room and ran passed them. "Your highness," the man said and kneeled, "a group of dark elves just appeared in the courtyard," the man reported. Vitor was on his feet in an instant. "You two with me now," he stated as he strode past Stjar'a and Cordelia, "and somebody find Slayer Buffy and Mage Willow," he ordered the guards at the door.
More to come...