by FIRESIGN » Sat Sep 27, 2008 10:59 am
Chapter One-hundred and Three
Xander followed Mira inside, questioning her like a little boy the entire way…
“Mira? Ma’am?” Xander said, trying desperately to get the elder woman’s attention.
Mira simply smiled and led the group into a large antechamber made of stone. The chamber seemed to go on forever, with vaulted ceilings and a extremely wide stairway that split into two as it met the second floor. The walls were bedecked with beautiful tapestries that appeared to be as ancient as the structure, itself.
Willow held Tara gently around the waist, helping her inside. Giles, Anya, and the Slayers followed.
Mira turned to address the group.
“Welcome to Caer Bannawg…” Mira began.
“Caer Bannawg? You’re kidding, right?” Anya said, skeptically.
“No, dear…I’m quite serious.” Mira replied.
“Okay…I’ll bite…well, not literally, of course…” Buffy said “…what’s this ‘Care Bad-dog’ thing?”
Anya rolled her eyes as she began “Caer Bannawg…I swear…it’s a damned good thing brains aren’t a requirement for being a Slayer!” The former vengeance-demon said, sarcastically. “It’s the Revolving Castle…? You know…the Castle of Riches…?”
Suddenly, a light-bulb went on in Willow’s head. “Oh – my – Goddess…are you serious??” she asked, her eyes wide in amazement.
“Okay…okay!” Faith said, stepping forward, quickly losing her patience. “Will somebody just tell us what the hell this place is?”
Giles, quickly becoming irritated by the bantering, finally stepped up to explain. “Caer Bannawg – or the Revolving Castle…is the place where King Pelles, who is Pwyll, the Head of Annwn…” Giles began, only to be interrupted by a very excited red-head.
“…Hades…” Willow said, thinking that the others would recognize him by that name.
“Ehhem…” Giles cleared his throught, giving his charge a bit of a look. “Yes…Hades…” he continued “…who was married to Rhiannon.”
“Okay…and we’re supposed to know these people…how?” Buffy said, still not understanding what the big deal was.
“Pwyll was the keeper of various treasures of the Gods and Goddesses...” Giles continued “…among them was the ‘Cauldron of Inspiration’.”
“Kind of like…like…the celtic ‘holy grail’.” Willow explained, cringing as she realized that she had, in her excitement, interrupted her mentor once again.
Mira, who had until now been quietly watching the banter, smiled “Yes…you are quite correct, Willow” she said, smiling at the knowledge that the young witch had already acquired. “We…the sisters of this coven, and I…are responsible for how shall we say…’maintaining’…various rellics here at Caer Bannawg.”
“Oh yeah? What else have you got here, sister?” Xander asked, only to be quickly elbowed by Buffy. “Ow! Hey!”
“Really interesting…um…history lesson…but Wills and Tara need to get cleaned up and they need a little rest...” Buffy said, protectively.
“Buffy…we’re…” Tara began.
“No, child…the Slayer is right.” Mira said, agreeing. “You are going to need your rest. I’ll show you to your rooms. You’ll have plenty of time to clean up and catch a bit of sleep before dinner.”
“Dinner? Now you’re talking!” Xander said, receiving a swift poke in the ribs once again.
Mira made no attempt to stifle her giggle at the young man. “Yes…dinner will be at seven o’clock in the main dining room, you can all meet me here at the bottom of the stairs then, and I’ll escort you there. Now come…let’s get you up to those rooms.” She said, leading the group up the staircase.
One by one, Mira showed them to their rooms, finally coming to the last two doors.
“I believe that you two will want to be close to Willow and Tara…so we’ve put you in adjoining rooms, here.” Mira said.
“Thanks…” Buffy said, walking to her sister, placing her hand on the red-head’s shoulder “…why don’t you take your girl there into the room and get her cleaned up and tucked in for snuggles, Wills…I’ll be right outside if you need me.” She said, looking to Faith.
“I can take the first watch if you want, B…really…” the Dark Slayer said, visibly concerned for her partner. “You haven’t slept in forever.”
“Thanks…really…I appreciate it…I really do…but I’ll take this, okay?”
Faith nodded. She understood Buffy’s need to be close to her sister, but was worried that she was pushing herself too hard…even for a Slayer.
“I’ll be inside if you need me, B.” Faith said, disappearing behind the door.
Willow opened the door to the room for her wife, turning back to Buffy “Thanks, Buff…for everything…you’re the best big sis, ever…ya know?”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah…” Willow said, smiling softly at the Slayer before disappearing through the door with Tara.
“Come on, baby…let’s get you cleaned up…” Willow said, helping Tara into the room, closing the door behind her. She couldn’t quite believe her eyes when she looked at the room.
“Um…wow.” Tara said, weakly…amazed at the sight. To say that the room was large would be an understatement.
“I’ll second that ‘wow’.” Willow said, moving Tara over to the huge canopied bed, easing her back onto the crimson velvet duvet. “Stay right here, baby…” She said, gently kissing the blonde’s forehead, cupping her face in her hands “…I’ll be right back, I’m just gonna see if I can find the bathroom and get some things to get you cleaned up.”
Tara nodded. She didn’t like being away from Willow, but complete exhaustion was preventing her from following.
Willow returned quickly with a washbasin filled with water and a washcloth and clean towel. She sat it at the bedside and knelt down beside the bed at Tara’s feet, unlacing the blonde’s shoes and removing them.
“Will…you don’t have to…” Tara began.
“Shhh…” Willow said, placing both of her hands on Tara’s hips “…just relax…wifely priveledge.” She said, smiling. “I get to spoil you whenever and wherever I want to.”
“I should be the one spoiling y-you…” Tara said, running her hand along Willow’s soft jawline.
“You do…every day…” Willow said, her eyes sparkling – mouth upturned in an elvish-grin.
“H-how?”
“Just by being mine…”
To Be Continued...
RC
