Queen of Darkness, Prologue

[Web Warlock]

TITLE: Queen of Darkness, Prologue
AUTHOR: Web Warlock
DISCLAIMER: Nothing to disclaim. Joss invented all of this; I am just playing in his sandbox.
RATING: G right now, going for some PG-13 bits later.
PAIRINGS: W/T
SPOILERS: Everything and a bunch of wild-ass speculation, set a few years in the future.
DISTRIBUTION: Not yet. This is beta.
FEEDBACK: Praise is nice, but constructive criticism is more helpful.
SUMMARY: Willow and Tara share a lazy day in the sun. It may be the last one for a long time. The calm before the storm.
NOTES: Heavy handed symbolism. This is the beginning of a new story for me and it will be long. It is W/T centric, but everyone else is involved. I am thinking of it as a “season 8” which we may or may not get.
You don’t need to read “Queen of Light” to read this one, but they are obviously related. There will be new characters and some old ones won’t be here. Oh. And in the future W/T are back together! Trust me.

Sunnydale, Summer 2004

Willow and Tara are sitting in the grass on a warm summer’s day. They have just finished a picnic and are now relaxing in the sun, playing chess.

“Tell me a story”, comes Willow’s voice, only her lips do not move. She moved her black pawn up one square.
“What kind of story.” Her lover replied, also inaudible. She moved a white bishop up three squares.
“A happy one.”, another move.
“Ok. Once upon a time…” another move
“I like it already!” another move and the redhead captures a white knight.
“Will you let me continue? Once upon a time there was a …a queen.”, another move, a white queen threatens a black rook.
“Was she beautiful?”, the black rook is moved.
“Yes. Very. But she was also very sad. Because she had no one else like her.”, a white pawn captures the rook.
“This is a very sad story now. I don’t think I like it anymore.” A black knight advances.
“Patience love. The queen surveyed her entire kingdom, but found no one to share her life with. Till one day she considered the kingdom across the countryside.”, another move. “There she saw another queen. Who was as lonely as she was.”
“Ooo! Did they fall in love?”, another move, Willow’s queen captures a white bishop.
“Yes, but they had many obstacles. Many tests.”, Tara moves her queen into play and captures Willow’s off guard Queen. “Check, and Mate.” Tara finally says out loud. Willow pouts.
“Darn. Did they live happily ever after then?” Willow mentally asks.
“Hmm? Oh, the Queens?”, Tara replies as she considers the black queen in her hand. “I don’t know yet. I am not done with the story yet.”
The two stare at each other for a long time.
“I never should have taught you how to play this. You beat now all the time.” Willow said out loud.
“You can make me pay for it later.”, the blonde replied in kind and flashed a wicked half-smile.
“With interest!” the red head countered. She leaned in to share a passionate kiss with her lover. It lasted for several wonderfully long seconds, but was interrupted by a splash of water on the blonde’s nose.
Tara looked up. Dark clouds had rolled in, unnoticed to the two and the begins of a spectacular storm were on the horizon.
“Willow! It’s raining, we need to get inside!”
The girls packaged up their blanket, picnic basket and chess set . They ran from the park all the way back to their home. By the time they reached their destination they were soaking wet and laughing like a couple of school girls.

To be continued…

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Web Warlock
web.warlock@attbi.com webwarlock@planetadnd.com
Author, the Netbooks of Witches and Warlocks
The Other Side: http://www.xtreme-gaming.com/~theotherside/
The DnD Community Council: http://www.dndcommunitycouncil.org/nbownw
--
"Nobody gets me baby. I'm the wind!" - Tom Servo, MST3k

[This message has been edited by Web Warlock (edited January 02, 2002).]

[aladdin]

WebWarlock, I'm sorry for not giving you any further feedback on the last parts of "Queen of Light" which I enjoyed but the past weeks have been very busy and exhausting and didn't leave much time for e-mails.

This sounds promising (you have a thing with the queens, don't you?), although I've never seen a game of chess process and end so quickly. Actually, the disclaimer made me very curious.
L.

[mollyig]

quote:

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Originally posted by aladdin:
although I've never seen a game of chess process and end so quickly.

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Sounds like when I try to play chess!

mollyig be intrigued WW. pray continue.

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"But children robbed of love will dwell on magic"
Barbara Kingsolver - Animal Dreamsquote:

[Web Warlock]

Get feedback to me whenever you can, I am cool with that.

Well I have a few pages of QoD: Episode 1 done, but it is only about 1/3 of what I want.

Here is the summary (as it is now) as a teaser.

quote:

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August 10th, 2004. Buffy shares news of her future plans. Willow and Tara learn something about their past when a mysterious person returns to their lives.

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Hope that is enough till I can post on Friday. Going to see "Harry Potter" today.

Warlock.

------------------
Web Warlock
web.warlock@attbi.com webwarlock@planetadnd.com
Author, the Netbooks of Witches and Warlocks
The Other Side: http://www.xtreme-gaming.com/~theotherside/
The DnD Community Council: http://www.dndcommunitycouncil.org/nbownw
--
"Nobody gets me baby. I'm the wind!" - Tom Servo, MST3k

[This message has been edited by Web Warlock (edited January 03, 2002).]quote:

[aladdin]

quote:

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Originally posted by mollyig:
Sounds like when I try to play chess!

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Like me and my brother playing chess..5 minutes and he wins..my way to stroke his ego.
Edited to add that I liked the teaser and I hope that you, WebWarlock enjoyed Harry Potter, it's a nice movie.

[This message has been edited by aladdin (edited January 03, 2002).]quote:

[Web Warlock]

Ok, I am posting the next part here. It is only half done.
    
     I thought I would just post here as opposed to posting in a new thread. I hope people find it.
    
     This story is the first of a whole new story arc I have planned. It is very Willow/Tara centered, though there will be some bits that are less W/T than others. Any episode that is not W/T I'll have on my website. Part 1b of this is very W/T, this is the setup.
    
     I am also going on some speculation here. I am very liked to get Jossed.
    
     Well, let's do it.
    
     --
     TITLE: Queen of Darkness, Part 1a: The Black Druid
     AUTHOR: Web Warlock
     DISCLAIMER: Nothing to disclaim. Joss invented all of this; I am just playing in his sandbox.
     RATING: PG.
     PAIRINGS: Everyone is with who they are supposed to be with.
     SPOILERS: Everything and a bunch of wild-ass speculation, set a few years in the future.
     DISTRIBUTION: Not yet. This is beta.
     FEEDBACK: Praise is nice, but constructive criticism is more helpful
     SUMMARY: Buffy shares news of her future plans. Willow and Tara learn something about their past when a mysterious person returns to their lives.
     NOTES: Finn Mac Cumhail is a “real-life” character in Irish myth. The “Redneck Statistian” is also a real person.
    
    
     August 10th, 2004. The Magic Box. Morning.
    
    
     “Good Morning! Welcome to the Magic Box. Can I help you find anything in particular?”, stated a bright a cheery Dawn. She had been standing behind the counter but jumped at the opportunity to help the day’s first customer. While she ran off to help the customer, an eldery woman looking for a love charm, Willow and Anya walked out of the back room.
     “Come on Anya, you know you need it! Just give me the money and I will get it all set up for you.”, explained Willow for the third time already this morning.
     “Oh, just *give* you the money. I don’t just give out five thousand dollars of my hard earned money.” Came Anya’s reply as she moved away from the red-head.
     “Anya. The server is so overloaded now. By my estimates you are loosing a full third of your web-based business. I can show you the numbers. It will practically pay for itself.”
     “Why can’t you upgrade the old one. It was fine when we bought it.”
     “Yeah, two years ago. You business has increased 234% since then, but the server has stay the same. You know I am right.”
     Anya hated to admit it, but she hated loosing money even more. “Oh. All right, you can have your money. When will it be on-line?”
     “Thank you Anya! I can order it today and we can be up and running in a matter of weeks. You won’t be sorry!”, Willow practically jumped. A new server for the magic shop also meant a nice commission for herself. And with her newest project she needed a little extra cash.
     Dawn finished ringing up the customer. “Thank you and please come again!” Dawn waited till the customer left. “That was so cool. She was buying a love charm for this old guy who lives in the same retirement home that she does. I guess old-people still like to do it.”
     “Well I hope you charged her five grand for it, cause our network administrator here just robbed me of that much.”, Anya turned her head to the side and looked a bit queasy.
     “We are getting the new server? Cool. I know lots of people who want to buy stuff that never want to set foot in here. Huh, that sounded worse than I meant.”
     Dawn continued on talking about all the kids from high school who wanted to buy stuff, mostly love charms and books on sex magic, but were too embarrassed to come in. Anya, continued to look queasy, and then finally almost green. She ran towards the direction of the women’s room in the front. “Excuse me!” was all she managed to get out.
     “Is she ok?” Dawn asked.
     “I don’t know? Do you think loosing all that money made her sick?” Willow joked.
     “Probably, she made a similar face when I asked for a raise last month. So…what’s the word on your secret project?” asked Dawn.
     “The word is ‘none of your business’. I guess that is four words though. You will see it when everyone else does.”
     “I bet Tara knows. I bet she forced you to talk about it, under penalty of tickles.” Laughed Dawn.
     “Yeah something like that”, replied Willow lost in thought, “Hey, you aren’t supposed to know about those!”
     “Come on Will, those walls are paper thin. I have known about what you two do forever.”
     “Well don’t tell your sister.”, Willow said which got her a confused look from Dawn. “No not THAT, she knows about that too. She doesn’t know that you know, you know.”
     “Yeah besides, I bet it’s hard to hear you two over her and Brian boinking anyway.”
     “Dawn Marie Summers! Such words from such an innocent face. Speaking of boinking Brian, an word on this ‘big secret’ Buffy is telling us today?”
     “Nope, not a word. Sorry I really don’t know. But I bet it is her and Brian breaking up.”
     “Ah, that is sad. I kinda liked Brian, he was so…”
     “Boring?”
     “Normal, Dawn, normal.”, pause. “Which of course means boring!” Both girls laughed out loud. “God, I am sorry, but I never thought Buffy would fall for the male version of Cordelia.”
     The girls shared their laugh a bit longer. Finally Dawn looked over to the restroom where Anya had disappeared to.
     “Hmmm, do you think we should go check on Anya?”, asked Dawn, her voice turning to concern.
     “I don’t know, maybe”, Willow moved from the counter over the restroom. Just then the door opened, and Anya stepped out. She looked a little better, but seemed tired.
     “Well that wasn’t fun.”, was her only comment.
     “Are you felling OK Anya?”, asked Willow?
     “Except for trying to purge the entire contents of my digestive tract and a portion of my internal organ, yes. Xander made, or attempted to make, Indian food last night. I think I got a bad curry.”
     “Ooo! You should have talked to me first. Xander tried to make me spaghetti one night when we were in grade school. He cooked ketchup on some old mac and cheese.”
     “Thank you for that visual, I am returning to the toilet now, apparently I still have organs in here I no longer need.” With that, Anya rushed back into the restroom.
     “Hmm. If I would have know that would have worked so well I would have said it years ago.” Said Willow to no one in particular.
     “Eeew, I hope she isn’t in there all day, she might scare off the customers.”
     “Dawn aren’t you sounding like the little proto-Anya.”
     “Hey, I only have a week still school starts again and Buffy won’t let me work during school nights, so this is my last chance to make some money.”
     “All right, I leave you to your capitalist ways. I’m just content on spending the money you make.” Willow went behind the counter and got the corporate credit card from it’s locked safe. “Mrs. Anya Harris”, Willow read from the card, “you and your 14 digits have a date with me and the Internet.” She said as she went back to the office.
     The day was unspectacular except that Anya came out of the restroom and decided to go in back and lay down. Dawn offered to let her go home and she could run the store, but Anya said something about ‘minors’ and ‘child loabor’ and ‘her money’, but none of it made any sense.
     Around 3:30pm Anya got up and looked 100 times better. She asked Willow and Dawn not to mention anything to Xander, she did not want his feelings hurt. A few minutes later Buffy and Tara walked in from their classes at UC Sunnydale.
     Buffy walked over to Dawn and Tara to Willow.
     Willow greeted Tara with a kiss. “Tough day at work honey?” Tara asked.
     “The worst. The new server only comes in one color. I may need mochas and long snuggles.” She replied to her lover.
     “Hmm. Well my first grad-school class was great, ‘Child psychopathology’. But stats is going to be hard.”
     “Oh baby. We can get mochas and snuggles for you too.”, Willow said as she pulled Tara closer.
     “The professor is way cool though. He is from Tennessee originally, though he taught at Yale for a while. He calls himself the ‘Redneck Statistican’ and has us all call him Mark. A few minutes of that class and I felt my drawl comin’ back.”
     “Sounds great.”
     “Yeah I was the only in the class who understood, ‘That dogl hunt!’ as something good. It was kinda like being back at home, that is without the psychotic family and stifling environment.” Tara added with a laugh.
     They kissed and hugged again with several “I love yous” and “I missed yous”. Willow looked over Tara’s shoulder at Buffy talking to Dawn. Dawn was recounting her events of the day.
     “Did she give you any clue about what she wants to talk to us about?”, Willow asked Tara.
     “None. Zip. She wouldn’t say a word. I told her I could read her mind and find out if I wanted too and she just laughed. She is in a good mood though. Do you think it is about Brian?”, Tara asked, careful not to let Buffy hear.
     “We thought so, Dawn and I. Anya didn’t have an opinion. She was sick all day.”
     “Oh my Goddess, is she ok?” Tara asked while looking around for Anya.
     “Yeah she is fine now, she thinks she got a bit of bad curry that is all.”
     “Oh. Xander was cooking again.”
     Willow and Tara walk hand in hand over to Buffy and Dawn.
     “So, what’s the big news?”, Willow asked, “When are we going to hear about this big decision?”
     “Later. When Xander get’s here. I want everyone here for this.”, was Buffy’s only reply.
     They spent the next couple of hours discussing the less important particulars of their day. Anya felt well enough to make coffee for everyone and have a cup herself, thought she stopped drinking it after a couple of sips. Tara talked about her new grad school classes and Buffy mentioned a couple her classes. She was happy to report that even being dead and saving the world a few times only had set her back a year, as long as she took the maximum number of hours and went over the summer as well. Dawn was lamenting the start of school for herself, but at least she would be a senior she thought. Anya reminded Dawn that their senior year they all nearly got killed by a giant snake that had been the mayor and Buffy had to blow up the school. A ring at the door let them know that Xander was here.
     “Laides, no need to stand, the man is finally here.” Announced Xander.
     Anya rushed over to give him a hug and a kiss. “That is great, because our car needs it’s oil changed.”
     “And I need this peanut butter jar opened.”, replied Dawn sarcastically.
     “And Tara and I want to know about stereos, but couldn’t ask anyone here.” Added an equally sarcastic Willow.
     “And this is the man sitting down after a long day of work. You can do all those others things yourself. Except for you hon, I’ll get that oil changed tonight.”
     “Who said chivalry is dead. It has only been domesticated.” Anya said and gave Xander a kiss on the head.
     “Speaking of man. Where is Brian Buffster?”, Xander asked.
     “Huh, Brian, won’t be here.”, Buffy added. At which point Anya made a exhaling snort and put a ten dollar bill in Xander’s out stretched hand.
     “What was that? Are you two making bets on my love life?” Buffy asked.
     “No, it just. Well yes. So are you breaking up with Brian or not?”, Anya asked.
     “Not that it is any of your business. But that is not why I asked you all here now.”, Anya snatched the ten back from Xander.
     “Why Buffy? We are all here for you.”, said Tara. Buffy looked over to the young witch and remembered her words when she was going through that thing with Spike. She knew Tara would be supportive.
     “Thanks. But this is not about Brian. It is about me.”, Buffy said. This got everyone’s attention. “I have made a decsion about my life and about what I want to do with it. I spoke to my academic advisor today and set up my schedule and he says everything looks good, and of course I called Giles last night, it was already today for him I think, but anyway…”
     “Buffy. Your’ babbling.”, Willow said, “and you know it has to be bad, when I point it out.” She added with a smile.
     “Yeah.” Buffy smiled back. “Anyway I have decided what I am going to do. I want to teach. I want to be with kids and help them.”
     After a bit of silence, Anya says, “That’s it? That is why we are here?”
     “Anya!”, called out Willow, “Buffy, I think that this is great! I am happy you found your calling, I mean calling after the slayer thing. So what do you want to teach?”
     “I don’t know, High School, maybe English. I really like poetry, and I get a lot of practice reading here. Plus I thought it would be a good way for me to help out. High School kids still get prayed on the most here.”
     “I think it is wonderful!”, exclaimed Tara, “You will be a wonderful teacher. I know you will love it. Willow told me how much fun she had teaching.”
     “Thanks you guys. You’re like my own little cheerleading section!”
     “Buff, I think this great and all, but there is one thing I don’t get. You hated High School.”, came Xander’s response.
     “I know, but now it can be different. In a lot of ways I feel like I have some unresolved issues there. Maybe this will help.”
     “So what do you do now?”, asked Willow.
     “Well, I need to take the secondary Education courses, and I have to do some supervised teaching at the school. Giles mentioned some tests, course the Watcher’s Council pulled a lot of strings to get him in.”
     “Wait! Teaching, at the High School. MY High School! No way, I am a senior this year, I can’t have you as a teacher and at home!”, exclaimed Dawn.
     “Relax. I’ll only be there spring semester, and I doubt I’ll have you in any of my classes. My classes. That sounds nice, all powerful and stuff.”
     “I’m sorry Buffy, I knows this means a lot to you, and I have not been very supportive, and and…”, Anya trailed off and broke into tears.
     “Ahn you ok?”, asked her worried husband.
     “Yeah, I was just thinking she will never be rich working as a teacher.”
     “Darn, and I was hoping to put a down payment on one of those cars I see all the teachers drive, what are they called again?”, added a sarcastic Slayer
     “Used.”, replied Willow, not missing a beat. “We should celebrate! Buffy has a career!”
     “No, thanks, but I am beat. Besides.”, Buffy paused, “Brain and I did break up today.” At that Anya gave the ten back to Xander.
     “Aww, we are so sorry Buffy.”, Willow said as she approached her friend.
     “Yeah we liked the guy.”, added Xander.
     “Liars.”, said Buffy, “but wonderful, beautiful liars. No we both knew it was not working out. So we did it clean. He is heading back to school so I doubt he will pull a Riley on me.”
     Everyone was slightly taken aback at Buffy’s use of Riley as an example, but they guessed, if it was her pain.
     “We had fun, and we helped each other out a lot.”, added Buffy.
     “Yeah, and I could hear you helping all night sometimes.”, remarked Dawn.
     “Dawn! Don’t you think you’re a bit young for such…things?”, Buffy shot back at her sister.
     “Yeah and when you were may age it was all, ‘Oh Angel, why can’t we be together, Oh that’s right because you’ll turn all fatal attraction again if we boink.’”, mocked Dawn in her best ‘tormented Buffy’ voice.
     “That is so not true!”, shot back the Slayer.
     “Actually I’d say it’s pretty dead on would you Xan?”, Willow chimed.
     “Yup. I almost uncanny.”, he replied.
     “I am going to stop telling you all news of my life if this is what I get.”
     “Well we are happy for you!”, Tara said as she rushed over to hug Buffy. “You will be great!”
     “I agree, oh! And if you want to use my grade book from the computer science class, it’s yours.”, Willow said as she also gave her friend a hug.
     “Thanks! Come on Dawn, we ought to get you home so I can patrol. See ya!”
     “Alright. See you in the morning Anya!”, shouted Dawn as she followed her sister out the door.
    
     Dawn and Buffy walked in deepening dusk. Neither had much fear of walking at night, it had been quiet on the Hellmouth since June. But Buffy had learned not to take chances.
     “I think it is great what you are doing Buffy.”, Dawn said to her older sister.
     “Thanks, it is the first thing I have felt really drawn too in some time.”
     “Mom would be proud.”
     “You think so?”
     “Yeah. She told me once that teaching was a noble profession. That was of course before you had a tendency to burn down and blow up various schools.”
     “Girl has to have a hobby.”, Buffy said. She put her arm around Dawn, it made her happy to think her mother would be proud of her choice. Her happy contemplation lasted for all of thirty seconds till she heard a crash of metal on metal in a nearby alley.

     “Dawn. Stay behind me.”, the Slayer calmly said while shifting into her battle mode. It might innocent or it might be an iron clawed demon.
     They got to the alley and found a man. At least it looked like a man. He was tall, with long blonde hair and a very long blond mustache. He wore what looked like animal skins over a studded leather vest. His hair was tied back with a leather thong and he wore a metal ring around his head that looked like gold and another around his neck that looked like silver. He also carried a sword that he was swinging wildly.
     “Well either there is an 80-metal band in town or you are missing from the Renaissance faire.” Buffy said to the man.
     He turned and approached her. He said something to her, but she did not understand the language. He repeated it with more urgency. When Buffy failed to understand him he swung his sword at her.
     “Hey! It’s not nice to swing sharp objects at people! How about you calm down and we find out who you are...”
     Buffy’s words were cut short, literally, when the sword sliced through the sleeve of her shirt. It was only because of her Slayer reactions that allowed her to escape with out injury.
     “Now that is plain rude!”, Buffy grabbed a metal pipe that was affixed to the wall of the alley and defended herself from the man’s sword attacks. The two fought, but it was obvious that Buffy was the stronger fighter. The man miss-stepped and slipped, Buffy closed in for her attack when she realized he had hit his head on the pavement and was out cold.
     “Dawn! Come here!”, she shouted. “Take this, we need to get this guy to Tara and figure out who he is, where he is from and why he is attacking me.”, she handed Dawn the sword, which was a good deal heavier than Dawn realized. Buffy picked up the man in a fireman’s carry and hurried back to the Magic Shop.
    
     Buffy went into the shop, thankful that Anya had not locked the doors yet. Everyone was very surprised to see them back, and more so when they saw what she was carrying. Xander and Willow rushed over to help Buffy, Tara went over to Dawn.
     “Wow Buff, only a few seconds out the door and you picked up another guy!”, Xander joked. It got him a Willow-punch as reward. They help Buffy lay him on the table.
     “Who is this?”, Willow asked. She was looking over his clothes.
     “Don’t know, saw him in an alley and he just attacked me. He was speaking some language I have never heard before.”
     “Well looking at his clothes I’d say he was not native from here”, said Willow, “Maybe Dark Ages?”
     “Celt.”, said Anya matter of factly.
     “Huh?” was Willow’s and Buffy’s reply.
     “This dude is Irish?”, Buffy asked.
     “No, Celt. I’d bet 100 AD or before.”, Anya said. , “even before my time.”
     “Yeah, here”, said Willow pointing to the metal around his neck, “that is a torc. And the metal band around his head must mean he is a chieftain or king. I bet he was speaking Gallic!”
     “No, I have heard Giles speak Gallic, this was a little different.”, Buffy said.
     “It might be an older form.”, came Tara’s reply.
     “A Tongues spell?”, asked Willow.
     “Yeah, that sounds about right.”, returned Tara. She went over to the spice counter and found the proper component., “Anya, may I?” she asked the store owner, Anya just waved it off. Tara knew Anya never had the heart to charge her, but she always paid later anyway. Tara stood over the man and looked to Willow. “Here we go.”
     “Linguae sine erroribus!”, Tara chanted while sprinkling the powder over the man’s face.
     “Did it work?”, Buffy asked, she got her answer. The man shot up from the table.
     “What treachery is this! Where are my men! Why have you brought me here!”, he shouted, sending everyone but Buffy back a bit. He was ready to get up till he saw Tara.
     “Liath?”, he said to her. He turned and saw Willow. “Bodhmal?”, his expression changed from panic to one of great joy. He laughed out loud.
     “Of course! I would have to be you two!”, he gathered both girls into a giant bear hug.
     “Y-You know us?”, Tara said.
     “Know you? Know you! My dear sweet Liath, I would know you if my eyes had been plucked from my skull! Do you know me? It is I Finn!”
     “Finn. Ok, so who are we then?”, asked Willow.
     “My dearest Bodhmal! Always with the riddles, ok I will play. You both are my mothers! We must celebrate, our family is one again!”, Finn said as he pulled the two, very confused, girls into another enthusiastic bear hug.
    
To be continued.....

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Web Warlock
web.warlock@attbi.com webwarlock@planetadnd.com
Author, the Netbooks of Witches and Warlocks
The Other Side: http://www.xtreme-gaming.com/~theotherside/
The DnD Community Council: http://www.dndcommunitycouncil.org/nbownw
--
"Nobody gets me baby. I'm the wind!" - Tom Servo, MST3k

[This message has been edited by Web Warlock (edited January 04, 2002).]

[This message has been edited by Web Warlock (edited January 04, 2002).]

[xita]

He he, Willow and Tara have a son!

ANd yes please keep all the parts in one thread, makes it easier for people to catch up on the fic!

[mollyig]

Well, I'm a sucker for anything celtic, for obvious reasons, so thank thee!

Really interested to see where you're going with this Web Warlock

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"But children robbed of love will dwell on magic"
Barbara Kingsolver - Animal Dreams

[tommo]

Willow and Tara, mommies. Heh. Interesting twist for your storyline.

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"Bitter, party of one. Bitter, party of one." she muttered... ~ Four Months After by Capt. Murdock

[Web Warlock]

Thanks for all the positive responses!
I am enjoying this and have so many ideas it is hard not to be writting!

A couple of points.
The chess game in part 0 is in progress, so it was not really a fast game.
The clue is Tara moved her bishop as her "first" move, something you can't do as a first move.

Plus. If anyone has any suggestions for anything, don't be afraid to post. Even if you hate the story. I am cool with not everyone liking my work, but maybe I can make it better if you tell me what you don't like. I won't be offended and you have my permission. Just if you post, "It sux!" at least tell me why you feel that way.

Got my Big-Bad all figured out, just have to find a place for the introductions!

Warlock.

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Web Warlock
web.warlock@attbi.com webwarlock@planetadnd.com
Author, the Netbooks of Witches and Warlocks
The Other Side: http://www.xtreme-gaming.com/~theotherside/
The DnD Community Council: http://www.dndcommunitycouncil.org/nbownw
--
"Nobody gets me baby. I'm the wind!" - Tom Servo, MST3k

[Web Warlock]

Here is part 1B.

Willow and Tara find aout a little bit more about themselves and this son of theirs. More Celtic stuff and gratuitous nudity!

Hope you enjoy. Part 1C is comming up, expect Willow and Tara to save the day!

--
Queen of Darkness: The Dark Druid part 1B

     ““Uh, wait a bit. I-we, are your mothers? Who is Bodhmal?”, Willow asked, extracting herself from the embrace. “My name is Willow and this is Tara.”
     “Mother I would know you anywhere. The body may die, but the soul is forever. You taught me that yourself. You are Bodhmal, druidess.”, he reached out a touched a strand of her hair. “You have hair as bright as Brigit.”, he turned to Tara. “You are Liath, wise-woman. You taught me the arts of survival and the properties of herbs. Regardless of who you maybe now, you both were and are my mothers. Surely you feel it as well?”
     “Yes. There is a kinship here. I do feel it.”, Tara replied.
     “So do I. But why are you here now?”, Willow asked.
     “I know not, I was settling a quarrel between my men and then I find myself in this strange place. I suspected dark sorcerery, but I am now certain I am here because you summoned me.”
     “We didn’t summon you. I am sorry, but we did not even know about you.”, Tara remarked.
     “I am sorry too, Finn, but I don’t even think we know how to do such a thing.” Added Willow.
     “Powerful Bodhmal, always disarming your foes and friends alike with a jest. It was you that taught me the powerful magic of words.”, he said and added a sing-song phrase in Gallic and a flower appeared in his hand, which he gave to Willow. “Surely this is not beyond you?”
     “Oh. But, I, I mean, I…”, Willow began to say, but never got out.
     “She can’t do magic anymore Finn. Only me, and I could not do this.”, Tara replied while placing a hand on Willow’s. Willow looked away, apparently still a touchy subject.
     Finn laughed out loud again. “Bodhmal not do magic! Then birds no longer sing in the trees and the sun sets in East!”
     “It’s not that I can’t do magic, it’s that I won’t. Not anymore.”, Willow replied back, there was a level of sadness in her voice that Tara did not miss, neither did Finn.
     “Your choice and your reasons, I am sure. Then if you two did not summon me here, we need to find out why I am here.”
     “Yeah, what dropped warlock-boy here at our doorstep?”, Xander said. Finn heard this and was on his feet in an instant.
     “Speak not of the betrayers! I will have your head for insulting my mothers so! Where is my sword!”, Finn shouted.
     “Right here.”, Buffy said calmly and was between Finn and Xander faster than either could blink. “And you’ll keep your sword, hands and whatever else off my friends if you know what is good for you.”
     “Ahh, the blonde warrior. You fought well, but you won’t get a second chance to defeat me.”
     “I won’t need one.”
     “Finn!”, came a shout from Tara, which surprised everyone, including Tara herself. “You will not harm any of these people. They are my friends.”
     “As you wish dear Liath. If they be friends of yours then certainly they are good people. But he spoke the name of the betrayers and dishonored you and Bodhmal.”, Finn said indicating Xander.
     “Finn. He knows nothing of our ways. To most ‘warlock’ is generic term for a male witch or one who uses magic. He does not know about ‘the War of the Warlocks’.”, Willow added. Xander started to protest, but she shushed him.
     “I will forgive them their ignorance. But now we must determine why I have joined you at this time. Shall we rattle bones or consult the oracles?”, Finn asked.
     “Actually, I thought we could hit the books and the ‘net.”, remarked Tara.
     “That is good. Maybe I should go out and patrol. If there is some brand new mischief lurking about, I want to know.”, said the Slayer.
     “Patrol?”, asked Finn.
     “Buffy is a …warrior, a slayer of demons.”, Willow told Finn.
     “Ah! That is wise. You must have Sidhe blood in you to be so strong. I will join your hunt!”, Finn said as he started off after the Slayer.
     “Whoa, wait a sec, you are not exactly low profile guy.”, Buffy said. “We will need to get you a change a clothes or something.”
     “And a bath.”, came Anya’s reply. “Tell me you don’t smell that?”
     Finn looked at himself and then looked at the others. “Tis true, compared to you I am attired strangely. These must be your students Liath, I see they value caution and stealth. Though some have freer tongues than others.”
     “Great, let’s take you to our home and get you some proper attire.”, said Willow. “I can use my computer at home.” Finn looked at her quizzingly, so Willow added, “Magical scrying device.” Which seemed to please him.
     “I’ll grab some books, Buffy?”, Tara said as she asked the slayer over for help.
     “Come on Finn, you’ll like the 21st century.”, said Dawn as she lead him out.
     “I’ll drive them, I think I can get us all into the Xander-mobile, wait here for me?”, Xander said to Anya.
     “Yes. I was not looking forward to be crammed into a small metal box with a smelly Celt. I’ll lock behind you.”, Anya said and gave her husband a kiss. “Pick me up dinner? Fried chicken?”
     “Sure.”
     “And fish. Oh! And some fries!”
     “Of course.”
     
     They did all pile into Xander’s car, with some difficulty. They put their books, Willow’s laptop, Finn’s sword and a cudgel he was hiding under his furs in the trunk. Tara and Willow had to explain to Finn that Xander’s car was like a magical conveyance. But despite all that he had seen, he continued to trust Willow and Tara. Back at the Summer’s home Tara and Buffy were trying to find some clothes for Finn. The dug up an old T-shirt and a pair of sweat pants that had belonged to Brian. They could not find any shoes, but Finn’s still seemed fine if they were covered by the sweat pants. Tara had shown Finn the shower and how to use it. He marveled less at the water inside the house, but in the fact that he had hot and cold water at his demand. Willow and Dawn were downstairs with the books.
     “Here is one, Finnegan McDougal. Oh wait. I think he is Irish singer, oh and he is still alive.”, said Dawn.
     “Look for the old stuff.”, Willow said between clicks, “Anya said he was likely 100AD, but I am thinking he is a lot older than that.”
     “Ok. What are looking for?”
     “Any strange activity in the last few days that might give us a reason why Finn is here.”
     
     Tara met Buffy on the top of the stairs.
     “I am going to check on him, make sure he is fine, grab his old clothes.”, Tara said.
     “I hope to give them a decent burning.”, remarked Buffy.
     “Yeah, maybe. I guess they didn’t have much in the ways of soap back then. Meet you down stairs.”
     Tara knocked on the bathroom door, “Finn? It’s me Tara-Liath. I have your new clothes, can I get your old ones?”
     “Yes, come in! This ‘Show-er’ device is one of your most fantastic magics yet!”
     “Oh it’s really not my mag—Ah!” Tara said as she opened door to encounter a fully naked Finn playing with the temperature controls. “Oh, sorry, I m-m-mean I didn’t mean to.”
     “Liath? Are you ok?”, Finn asked with sincere concern. He noticed she was covering her eyes and had her head turned. He laughed again. “My dear Liath! You have seen me in this state since I was a mere babe in your arms! You even held me to your breast for nursing on Imbolic when the Goddess caused your own milk to flow. You told me so yourself. Surely we have no secrets.” But he guessed at her discomfort and grabbed a towel to wrap around himself.
     “Th-thank you. I am sorry Finn but this is still new to me.”
     “It is not. It is in your soul, you have only forgotten it. Thank you for your gift of the clothing. See, now as then you make sure that my clothes are clean and well mended.”
     “Just shot out if you need us.”, Tara said as she closed the door.
     She turned and was almost knocked over by Buffy, Willow and Dawn rushing up the stairs to investigate her yell.
     “Are you ok?” Willow was the first to ask.
     “Yes, I just got a eyeful of our naked son and it surprised me.”, she replied while blushing a deep red.
     “Uh! No fair. That was wasted on her, why couldn’t I have brought him his clothes!” complained Dawn.
     “I won’t even dignify that with a remark, turn and move.”, was all Buffy had to say to her sister. “But maybe he does need more towels…” she said to Tara, who grabbed the Slayer and turned her back to the stairs.
     
     Back downstairs the girls settle around the table. Buffy looked over Willow’s shoulder at recent news papers on the web and Dawn and Tara went over the books.
     “Well we are sure he is Celtic, and he has two mothers. That should stick out.”, said Dawn.
     “Hmm. Wait a second. Give me that book Dawn.”, Tara said as grabbed a book on Irish myths and legends.
     “Ah Ha!”, Tara finally said., “Here it is, Finn Mac Cumhail. Believed to have lived around the 5th or 3rd century BCE. He had two foster mothers, but his real mother and father had been killed.”
     “That must be us then.”, said Willow.
     “Yeah here we are, or they are. Liath and Bodhmal. Both were considered wise women and druids. They taught Finn to be both a warrior and a druid. He was taught magic, poetry, and the arts of survival. He later went on to form the Finana, an army of men loyal to the High King Fiachadh and Finn was the captain. He also was the father to Ossian.”
     “So you are grandmothers as well!”, Dawn said rather happily.
     “Shush, listen.”, said Buffy
     The girls could hear Finn in the shower singing in a deep baritone. The words were unintelligible, but the music was loud and clear.
     “Hmm, how come we can’t understand him Tara, did your spell wear off?”, Dawn asked.
     “Hmm?”, Tara seemed in a trance as did Willow, “No. He is singing using magic, my spell was not designed to translate magical words.”, she reached out and found Willow’s hand already waiting for her.
     “What.”, said Buffy eyeing the two. “Can you understand what he is saying?”
     “Not the words, but the emotion.”, Willow said. “He is singing about us, Tara and me, or rather Liath and Bodhmal.”
     “He is singing about our love, and the love we gave to him. He may be a foster child, but he feels that we-they are his mothers.”, Tara added.
     Buffy looked a bit concerned. She made a mental note to make sure her friends were not under some thrall.
     “Are you both sure that you are this Liath and Bodhmal characters?”, Buffy asked.
     “Yes. No. I don’t know.”, came Willow’s almost predictable reply. “We have no memory of it, but and I think I can speak for both of us here,” Tara nods while watching Willow, “we feel it is right. We may have been these two Celtic witches/druidesses in a past life.”
     “Both Druids and Wicca’s believe in reincarnation. Finn believes us to be the reincarnations of his foster mothers.”, added Tara.
     “But are you sure it is not some sort of spell? I mean he did poof that flower from no where.”, Buffy said.
     “No, I am sure it is not. It is not some I *know* it is something I *feel*. I also know that no matter what, Finn means no harm to either Willow or myself.”
     “Well, ok. But I still am going to keep an eye on him.”
     “As well you should young warrior!”, said Finn from the around the stairs. The girls jumped, but Finn causally walked to them and sat in an empty chair. “You and I are kindred spirits. Warriors, leaders of the battle. I saw it in you when we fought, and I hear it in your words. You would die to save these women. As I would and swore too ages before you were born.”
     “Did. Twice actually.”, Buffy returned. “But can I see that in you as well. I just have to protect my friends first.”
     “My thoughts exactly! That is why we hunt tonight! You will show me your lands, and I will add my knowledge. Together we can ferret out whatever foul evil brings me here.”
     “Finn, do you even want to know where here is? Or when?”, asked Tara.
     “Details, that yes concern me, but must by needs wait till other information is gathered. I will hunt with the warrior-maid Buffy, and you can consult your oracles, here is to good hunting for us all! If nothing else, I will bring back a deer or lamb for our dinner.”
     “We’ll do carry out instead, ok.”, Willow said.
     “We will take care of dinner. You both be careful.”, Tara added.
     “Come on Finn. Let’s go rattle some bones ourselves.”, Buffy said as she lead him out the door.
     “So what do think a transposed Celt from the 5th century BC would want to eat?”, asked Dawn.
     “Canun?”, remarked Willow.
     “That makes about as much sense as anything else.”, said Tara.
     
     Buffy and Finn were walking through the grave yard. Darkness was now at it’s deepest.
     “So what are we looking for? Demon? Vampire, Giant rabbits?”, Buffy asked.
     “I do not know. Not yet.”, Finn replied back while looking all around. “Do you always go this direction?”
     “I have a pattern or two that I follow. Makes it easier to notice things out of place. Have you fought anything…well supernatural?”
     “Outside of yourself?,” he remarked with a grin, “Yes. My home, Erin, was also home to many things beyond the ken of man. You seem to have not small amount of experience in this area yourself.”
     “I get around. -I mean in the ‘I kill evil things way’ not in a ‘getting around’ way!”
     “I understand your words, but not your meaning. Your lands are truly strange to me.”
     “But yet you trust Willow and Tara. You trust that they will aid you and guide you.”
     “Yes. All will be made clear to me when they see fit. Even now as then they are my teachers.”
     “You love them.”
     “With all my heart. Only my Sadb and Ossain come first; my lover and our son.”
     “Not married then? You said ‘lover’ and not ‘wife’”
     “My dear child, one can not just marry a Goddess. What is that ahead?”
     Buffy looked and saw something ahead. At first she thought it might be a couple of stray dogs. But here eyes and supernatural senses told her otherwise. They looked more like ragged corpses, but moved like animals. Their eyes were bright red, but she could have swore their skin was blue.
     “The look like ghouls. Kinda like a vampire gone bad.”, Buffy said.
     “Dearg-dul. They drink the blood of the living.”
     “Irish vampires? No, I guess they would be older than that, Celtic then, cause I knew an Irish vampire once.”
     “Again I understand your words, but they meaning is lost. Have you encountered these creatures before?”
     “These? No. Ones like them though.”
     “Aye. So these are not natives to your lands. This maybe the sign we are looking for.”
     “These are the evil that summoned you here?”, Buffy asked incredulously. “No offense, but I can handle these guys on my own.”
     “I am sure that you could. But they are not the evil. They only accompany it. Wait, where are they going now?”
     The three vampires rushed off and were soon out of sight. Buffy and Finn ran after them and soon discovered where they had gone. An open storm drain on the edge of the cemetery.
     “Where does these lead?”
     “That? To the sewers mostly.”, a confused look from Finn and Buffy continued, “Underground. Where there waste from our homes goes. It’s dark, wet and smelly, and I often find myself down there. You know for one can I get a non-smelly evil.”
     “We must go after them. They kill with thought or concern.”, he said as he went down the grate.
     “Great, smelly, evil and homicidal. The fun just never stops happening.”, Buffy said as she followed.
     In the access tunnel Finn had complained that he wished he had brought his sword and a torch. Buffy pulled out her stake and a flashlight. “Girl has gotten come prepared.” She said and then handed Finn another stake.
     “What good will this do?”, Finn asked
     “Stab them in the heart. Poof, no more vamps.”
     They moved a few more yards and found a partially open door that lead to the main sewer. Finn went to go open it and Buffy was about to shout out “don’t” when one of the blue skinned vamps jumped him. Buffy yanked him off of Finn just as the other two and two more friends rushed in. Finn was making a good show of fighting two of them and Buffy had the other three. She was surprised that despite their thin and skeletal frame they were fast and strong. But not strong enough she thought as she slammed her stake into the closest one’s chest. It stood there for the briefest of seconds, and then it howled in rage at her and continued it’s attack.
     “Finn! These vamps of yours are not dying like they are supposed to! How do you kill them?”
     “Pile stones on them! Once they are covered they will cease to be!”, came his reply.
     Buffy looked around and found a water pipe a few feet above her head. Jumping she grabbed the pipe and swung her feet upwards toward the sewer’s ceiling. A few more swings and she kicked the ceiling, and another kick and the stones began to come loose. Finally a cascade of stones and mortar showered the vamps below. The three that attacked her were soon covered in rocks and stone, she one stuggle and then disappear in a satisfying cloud of dust and ash. She flipped backwards and knocked down a crumbling wall to trap the last two.
     “Well, that was nothing at all like fun.”, Buffy said, brushing off the dust, “You ok?”
     “I will live.”, Finn replied, one of the dearg-duls had clawed him and blood was no flowing down his arm.
     “We had better get you patched up. Come on.” Buffy said as she headed down the sewer for an exit.
     “Wait. Not that way.”, Finn said. “Look.” And he pointed to some markings left on the walls just ahead. “If we past we will die. Those are symbols of power, words made real. Only the dead can past without harm. These, dearg-duls were not trying to keep us out, but rather make us go in. We will need greater magic, but at least I know now whence the threat comes.”
     “You do great! Care to share.”, Buffy asked.
     Finn looked over his shoulder as he head back the way they came, “Tis the Dark Druid hisself. We need Bodhmal and Liath, or we won’t live to see the next day.”

to be continued...

------------------
Web Warlock
web.warlock@attbi.com webwarlock@planetadnd.com
Author, the Netbooks of Witches and Warlocks
The Other Side: http://www.xtreme-gaming.com/~theotherside/
The DnD Community Council: http://www.dndcommunitycouncil.org/nbownw
--
"Nobody gets me baby. I'm the wind!" - Tom Servo, MST3k

[This message has been edited by Web Warlock (edited January 06, 2002).]

[Web Warlock]

Here is a little more. I am working on finishing up this story, then I think I'll move the lot over to my website.

As long as it is fine with the mods, we can discuss the more W/T bits here. My next episode, "Ghost in the Machine", is more Willow centric than anything. Teaser: Willow continues to work on her secret project and takes Tara computer shopping. I know that sounds a little dull, but trust me, that isn't all that goes on!
Plus moving it all to my website allows me to turn up the rating a bit.

Until then here is a little more of Episode 1: The Black Druid.

---

     “The Black Druid. He was a member of our order. An Ovate of the highest standing, until.”, Finn began to say. Tara was tying up a bandage on his arm. His t-shirt had been replaced by a even more worn “UC Sunnydale” sweatshirt. He moved his arm and smiled approval at Tara.
     “Till he went evil.”, finished Willow., “at least according to legend.”
     “Tis no legend. I was there, I defeated him, lest he over run all of Erin with his evil.”
     “OK, I get it, he’s bad. How do we stop him?”, Buffy said and she finished her large Diet Coke.
     “We imprisoned him in a Sidhe mound in Tara.”, Finn said with a nod towards Tara’s direction., “He was to rest there till the end of days. But he escaped somehow.”
     “So we are worried about a 2,500 year old druid? He probably doesn’t even know where he is or what to do!”, came Dawn’s reply in between her etouffe’.
      “Time moves different in a Sidhe mound Dawn, it’s like another dimension.”, said Tara. “But are people supposed to age when they leave the mounds?”
     “True. There is foul magic at work here. But that is not my greatest concern.”
     “There’s more?”, asked Buffy.
     “Aye. The Black Druid is often only a portent of greater disaster. Like a crow that flies before the storm.”
     “Perfect. So he is only the introductory baddie. This and vampires that won’t die properly when staked…”, continued Buffy.
     “What? What are you talking about?”, Willow shot back.
     “These, Derg Dolls…”
     “Dearg Duls”, Finn corrected and continued with his chicken.
     “Dearg Duls.”, Buffy continued, “They don’t die when they are staked. You have to pile stones on them. Very annoying, I hate it when vamps change the rules on me.”
     “Dearg Duls…”, said Willow, and she got up and ran to her laptop. She hit a few keys and then looked up with a bit of satisfaction on her face. “Ah-Ha! Here we go. I am so glad I spent that summer scanning in Giles’ Watcher diaries!”, she continued reading, “Dearg Duls were a subtype of Irish vampire though more ghoul-like in nature. Can only be killed by piling stones on their graves or bodies. All know species were wiped out during the Christian conversion of Ireland in the dark ages.”
     “Ooo! ‘Willow the Watcher’!”, Dawn said with enthusiasm.
     “Well these were very much alive, or not alive but moving.”
     “I would not worry too much, according to this they are not very bright an most cannot create others of their kind.”
     “If you think so, but these things were trying to lead us to something to get us killed.”
     “Aye, I doubt very much that they knew who we were in any case. Deag Duls are not particular about the freshness of their kills, the Black Druid I am sure promised them all the victims they could eat in exchange for guarding his lair.”, Finn added.
     “About that. Tara, anything on the symbols down there?”, Buffy asked.
     “Hmm. They are Oghma symbols of power. I am sure I could dispel them, but it’ll be tricky.”, Tara said.
     “What can I do?”, asked Dawn.
     “You get to stay here and not get killed.”, came Buffy’s reply.
     “Come on! When you were my age you were doing stuff like this all the time!”, Dawn shot back.
     “Yes, and I had already been killed once. You don’t get the benefit of being the supernatural ‘Energizer Bunny’.”
     “Dawn. I am going to need you to do some research for me. Can you pull up all the information you can on Finn, Bodhmal and Liath? There maybe something there we can use.”, asked Willow.
     “Ok. But I know it is a ploy just to get me to stay here and out of all your hair.”
     “Listen to Bodhmal young Dawn. She is wise beyond her years and her council is good. I halt my hand to listen to her words and I am your elder by a 1,000 fold!”, Finn said clapping a hand onto Dawn’s back. “Now eat little one, the men of your village will want to see you healthy, not a like a thin and starving lamb!”
     “I am not thin!”, protested Dawn, Buffy couldn’t help but let out a little laugh.
     “You too young warrior!”, Finn reprimanded the Slayer.
     “Hey, I’m fit. I have a lot to offer the men of this village, I can’t believe I am getting into this.”, Buffy said and it was Dawn’s turn to laugh.
     “So when do we head out to battle this Druid? In the morning?”, Willow asked
     “Tonight.”, Finn said
     “Tonight?”, came the combined reply of the four women.
     “Yes. We must act before the Black Druid has gained enough strength to launch his own attack. He by now knows his watch dogs have been killed.”, Finn added.
     “Right. Ok. Willow, Tara gather up what you need. Finn, come with me, we will get weapons. Dawn, call Xander and let him know what we are doing.”, Buffy shouted as she moved into action.
     “Do you want me to have him join you?”, Dawn asked.
     “No. Tell him we have it under control, but if he wants to come here let him.”
     Willow and Tara gathered up various supplies needed for counter-spells, Buffy and Finn grabbed some weapons from the chest. A couple of swords and a large axe for Buffy.
     “You stay well stocked young warrior. I am impressed.”, Finn commented.
     “If your gonna collect something, I’d say let it be weapons.”, Buffy said as she handed him another sword.
     “Ok are we ready?”, Buffy asked. She got nods from both Willow and Tara.
     “Once more into the breach…”, quoted Tara. Willow grabbed her hand and squeezed it tight.
     “Dawn…”, Buffy began to say.
     “I know. ‘Close and lock the door, don’t let or invite anyone in.’ I get left home a lot you know.”, Dawn replied back.
     “Right. Let’s go.”, Buffy said.
     
          

to be continued...

Warlock.

------------------
Web Warlock
web.warlock@attbi.com webwarlock@planetadnd.com
Author, the Netbooks of Witches and Warlocks
The Other Side: http://www.xtreme-gaming.com/~theotherside/
The DnD Community Council: http://www.dndcommunitycouncil.org/nbownw
--
"Nobody gets me baby. I'm the wind!" - Tom Servo, MST3k

[Web Warlock]

Ok, here is the final post.
Please let me know what you think. I'll add this one to my website soon.

Warlock.

--

     

     Buffy, Willow, Tara and Finn headed out towards the sewer opening where they had last seen the Dearg Duls. However when they got there something else was waiting for them.
     "You couldn't have even bothered to call me before you left?" came Xander's annoyed question.
     "Well we were in a hurry and we…Hey! How did you get her first?", asked Willow.
     "I drove, remember me of the car. If you were all in such a hurry why did you walk? I have been waiting."
     "How did you know where to find us?", asked Tara.
     "Dawn. She told him, right?", Buffy answered for him. "We only brought enough weapons for us Xan, sorry. Besides we thought you would want to stay home with Anya."
     "Anya's asleep. She crashes almost as soon as we get home. Besides I have this,", Xander added while proudly holding up a tire iron, "from Uncle Rory's '59 Plymouth. Best manufacturing Detroit has to offer. Actually it is all that is left of Uncle Rory's '59 Plymouth, so I don't think he'll miss it."
     "Come on.", Buffy smiled and headed into the sewer.
     "You could have called.", he whispered to Willow.
     "Sorry we were in a hurry." she whispered back.

     Once inside Buffy showed them the remains of the Dearg Duls and the symbols on the walls. She moved over to Tara.
     "Think you can handle it magic girl?", Buffy asked.
     "I'll do my best." She answered with a smile.
     Tara pulled out a small book and began to read a series of words in Gaelic at the same time she cast a fine gray powder in the air.
     "Bris mallacht cloígh doras.", she said. The wards around the sewer glowed bright and then disappeared. She smiled and Willow gave her hug.
     "That's my girl!", she said.
     "Great, onward and forward.", Buffy said.
     "There will be other dangers, mark my words.", Finn added as he moved on as well.
     The traveled a bit, weapons drawn and eyes alert. Willow keep looking at her feet and all around them. She spoke.
     "Ah, hey guys, I know that this sounds like a complaint, but have you noticed something?"
     "What hon?", Tara responded.
     "No rats. None. I mean even if we got some rat eating vamps down here there would be little dried up rats. But there are none at all."
     "What are you suggesting Will, that the rats were turned into vampires and ran off? You not suggesting that are you?", came Xander's first amused then concerned reply. Buffy and Willow just stared at him.
     "No. I am thinking what ever it is that is down here scared them off.", said Willow.
     "Aye, that would be the Black Druid, nothing living can tolerate his presence for long.", Finn said.
     "As long as he is the scariest thing down here.", added Xander.
     "Oh now, why would you be looking for anything scary here", came a musical woman's voice.
     "Yes, when we are sooo much nicer.", came another.
     Then around a corner three women in long dresses appeared. They moved with a liquid grace, they seemed more to float than actually walk. Their skin was so pale it almost glowed, two were brunette and one was a red head. They began to sing.
     "Cover your ears! These demon whores are Leanan Sidhe! Their voices are cursed!", shouted Finn.
     "Now Fionn Mac Cumhail, do not lead these children astray. Your wars are over don't let them die for a battle lost centuries ago.", said the red-head.
     The Leanan Sidhe continued their hypnotic song, one by one the Scoobies fell under their thrall. Tara tried casting a counter spell, but the words became lost in the song. They approached the group, Buffy was still in the lead.
     "Well sisters which one should we begin with, Finn?", asked one.
     "How about this one", another asked indicating Xander, "he is young we could keep him alive for days."
     "This one is strong, I feel it, we should start with her.", said the brunette closest Buffy. She bared her fangs and prepared to sink them into Buffy's throat when she suddenly stopped.
     "Did you really think that song and dance would work on me? Cause I gotta tell ya, I wasn't impressed.", Buffy said as she yanked her stake out from the vamps body. The brunette looked down to she her body shift to dust and then explode into thousands of tiny fragments of dust and ash.
     "Now that is how it is supposed to work!", said a very pleased Buffy. She jumped forward and then back flipped to where the red-head was next to Xander. She fought it for a bit, but soon it too joined her sister. She ran after the third who was trying to escape, by this time the others were waking up. Finn saw her run and swung his sword. The vamp's body and head fell to the ground in separate clouds of dust.
     "Pretty slick, thanks!", Buffy said to Finn.
     "My pleaseure.", he replied with a slight bow.
     "Ok. How in the freaky-heck did that happen?", Xander asked.
     "Ah, they charmed us.", Willow replied back matter of factly.
     "Yeah I got that, but how come Buffy wasn't?", he added, that seemed to stump Willow for a bit.
     "Oh! Must be a Slayer thing!", Willow said looking pleased.
     "Cool. Bout time I got a few more perks.", said Buffy as she put her stake away. "Come on, they came from this direction."
     The moved further down the corridor till they reached a door. Buffy and Finn pulled it open.
     "Ah, Finn. So good of you to come, and look you brought me some sacrifices.", came a voice from beyond the darkness.
     Finn rushed in with his sword held high and let out a battle scream. He brought the sword done hard in the dark, but in an instant he was knocked backwards with a flash of light. Finn landed on the ground some ways away.
     "Lux!", Tara shouted and the room filled with light. The thing in the room squealed like an animal.
     "Dorcha!", it shouted back and the light was pushed back. Both spells fought for control and an uneasy twilight remained.
     "Liath.", it practically spat, "of course, Finn's crone. Though the years have been better for you than I. Where's your bitch, I am sure she is here somewhere."
     "You better not be talking about me!", Willow said. Venom was evident in her voice.
     "Ah, Bodhmal. I see the family is complete. Good, you can join you son in death as well. I have waited more than 2,500 years for this."
     "Why are you here?", Buffy asked. Her eyes were better in the dark than the others. The thing that she addressed had been human at one time. But now it sat hunched, almost doubled over. It looked like a skeleton with a bit of thin gray leather stretched over it's frame. Long, wiry grey hair came out of odd patches of skin. It had two eyes, but they had narrowed into evil looking red and yellow slits.
     "Why!", it screamed. "For revenge, for revenge on those that imprisoned me. I stayed in that mound for 25 hundred years aware! Knowing every minute that passed, never needing food or water, but longing for it! Never aging, but longing for death! Till some developers had the idea of leveling the mounds for a new shopping center! Ha! Can you believe it! I sought out my enemies, but they had long died, even their descendents did not carry enough of their blood. But imagine my glee when my magic found Liath and Bodhmal, alive and well. I made my way here, I knew that once I threatened the mothers, Finn would come!"
     "Ok, so your insane, I get that. Do all of you bad guys have to give me a speech before you attack?", asked Buffy.
     "Enough!", he screamed again, this time knocking everyone back. "I will have my revenge!", and he turned his attention to Tara.
     "Liath, you taught brave Finn to survive this world. I think it is appropriate that you die first!", he said and Tara was enveloped in a purple light. She began shake and convulse.
     "TARA NO! BUFFY DO SOMETHING!", screamed Willow. But she did not need to, Buffy was already moving towards the Druid. She grabbed Finn's sword from the ground and gave a great swing. The sword sliced clean through the Druid. He turned to Buffy and smiled.
     "One does not spend more than a 50 life times in a Sidhe mound and not pick up their some of their magic.", he grimaced evilly and knocked Buffy back.
     "Sidhe magic. Buffy! Xander toss Buffy your tire iron!," Shouted Willow. "Buffy, the Sidhe are harmed by iron, not steel! Hurry!"
     Buffy grabbed the tire iron mid way from her leap, she landed and gave the Druid a roundhouse kick sending him backwards, Tara dropped. He got up with speed that seemed impossible given his crippled form, but Buffy was faster. She slammed a foot on to his chest and drove the tire iron deep into his chest. The druid screamed as black blood tricked from his mouth.
     "I will not be denie……..", he said before saying no more. Buffy watched as the years cought up with the body in a matter of seconds. Nothing was left but a few wisps of dust and the tire iron. She turned to see Willow crying over Tara, Finn had joined them, Xander was standing back, but he looked upset.
     "She's not waking up.", came Willow between sobs. Tara was already beginng to change color to pale.
     "Shh. It's ok.", Finn said. "Liath, do you hear me? Bodhmal is here and she is very upset, she thinks you are leaving her. Return to us." Finn touched Willow's hand and then grasped it whole and held it to Tara's chest. "Tara.", he said for the first time. "You must come back to us. I don't think Willow can live with out you." With that he began to sing a deep, throaty song. Willow felt the magic working in him and flowing through him, and something else. Though she had not summoned it herself she felt the magic come from herself. It had been so long, and it felt wrong at first, but she knew it was right. Finn's song reached a tumultuous pitch and Tara woke, gasping for air.
     "Ah! Goddess, what the hell was that? I feel like I did the time Donnie put me in the clothes dryer.", Tara said in a hoarse voice. Willow was too overcome to even notice that her lover used a very un-Tara like word. She just held Tara and cried. Even Xander had a tear in his eye.
     "That-That was something else.", Buffy said to Finn. "Was she…dead?"
     "No, her spirit had become detached from her body and was lost.", he said.
     "That song you sang, that was powerful. What was it?", she asked.
     "It was a warning to the spirit world, 'return her spirit to me, or Finn Mac Cumhail and his army will take her back by force.'"
     "Who is in your army?", Buffy asked after a bit.
     "Just you and me.", Finn said with a grin.

     Finn remained with Willow and Tara for a few more days. This gave them the chance to reconnect. Willow would also not allow Tara to leave the house, despite all of her protests, until she felt her lover was better. Willow and Tara learned much of what was their own past and Finn was tutored in the ways of this new world. But everyone was getting the feeling that Finn felt it was time to move on. The planned to sell his gold circlet handband to a pawn shop for extra cash for clothes and supplies, but they were all very surprised when Anya offered him a few hundred dollars for it. "She'll probably double what she spent on the magical gray market with that.", Willow wispered to Tara, who could only laugh.
     The day came when Finn was to set out they had a small party in the Summers' home.
     "A toast I think is in order!", said Xander towards the end of their meal.
     "Well spoke! A toast then. To, family! Salinte!", exclaimed Finn as he downed his mug.
     "That is so cool", Xander commented on the celt's drink ability, "is anyone else impressed?"
     "So, where will you go?", Dawn asked.
     "North. My heart tells me north. But I also desire to see my homeland again.", Finn replied. "Then, who knows, the world seems to be at my fingertips!"
     "When are you headed out? Not that I want to get rid of you, but just curious.", asked Buffy.
     "In the morn. I'll leave before the first light of day."
     "But do you have to! I mean, it has been so great to have you here, you -we we were really getting to know each other again. And what if we need you! You don't have a phone; you don't even know how to use a phone!", Willow went on.
     "Ha!", Finn laughed, "Spare me! You would think two-thousand plus years would cure you of your crazy toungue!"
     "See honey, you were a babbler then too!", Tara said with hug.
     "I am going to miss you.", Willow said.
     "My Bodhmal. Demons fear your name, and yet you are overcome with the loss of your child!", Finn said, almost sad. "You said the same thing to me, all those years ago, when I left your cabin in the woods. Worry not. I knew less of the world then, than I do now. If you need me, or I need you, we will know. Now come! This is not a sad time, but a happy one, I feel we need song, dance and more to drink!", he said as he finished off another mug.
     They all agreed to go to the Bronze and celebrate. And depsite the sad overtones they all had a great time. Xander and Anya left early, Anya said and looked very tired. Finn thanked them for their time and called Xander his "brother". Finn danced with Willow, Tara, Buffy and Dawn, and then procedded to dance with just about everyone other woman in the place. He did piss off one girl's boyfriend, but made it up to them buy buying them a round of drinks. They all came home very late, laughing, and maybe a little drunk, except for Tara and Dawn, who as usuall only drank soda.
     When everyone was off to bed, Finn packed up his knapsack and began to head out the door. His sword was secure on his back and he carried a heavy walking stick. He was about to slip out into the early morning when a light come on behind him. It was the four women standing there, looking at him with a touch of saddness and disaproval.
     "Did you honestly think you were going to leave without saying good bye?", Buffy asked in her best "mom" voice.
     "The thought had occurred to me.", Finn replied. He looked up, "Dear Bridget save me from the mechantions of wizards, demons and slighted women!"
     He dropped his gear and gave them each a hug in return.
     "Little Dawn. You will grow into a fine woman one day, pity I have no son to introduce you to. ", he turned to Buffy. They grasped hands, "Ah Slayer. Tis far better to battle at your side than as enemies."
     "Gotta agree with you there. Take care.", Buffy took Dawn by the hand and they walked away to leave some time for Willow and Tara.
     "But do you have to go?", Willow asked yet again.
     "Yes. And we both know it is for the best. We found each other after being seperated by two and half thousand years, how can a few thousand miles be any sort of barrier?"
     Willow launched herslef at him for hug, which he returned. He held up her face and looked into her eyes. "I know not why you gave up your magic," he said and Willow began to protest, but he cut her off, "and I do not need to know, but I do know this. You can not deny who and what you are. To do so would be to cheat yourself and those you love of yourself. You will find your way. At least you have a wonderful guide.", he said with a nod towards Tara., "I love you my mother, my Bodhmal."
     "I love you to Finn. My son.", Willow said as she pulled away to allow Tara in.
     "Dearest Liath. What can I possiblly say to you? Except that I love you as well my mother.", Finn said.
     "I love you too son. Be careful, the world is more dangerous now than your time.", she said.
     "I will. You were and are my guide. I can not fail because I have you wisdom inside me.", he pulled her close for hug as well. "Protect her." he said in Tara's ear. "She has courage and will, but you are her strength. You always have been. You always will be."
     He pulled away and held Tara's and Willow's hands in each of his. They walked to the door where he gathered his gear. They all walked out on to the front porch. It was still dark, but the birds had begun to sing, hearlding the dawn.
     "Ah! My favorite time of day!", Finn said as he inhaled deeply. "The air is fouler now, than my day, but it is still full of promise.", he turned to Willow and Tara. "Remember. The Black Druid was not just an evil force from our past, but he is also a portent of evil in our futures. Be wary and be cautious."
     "You too.", Willow said.
     "Of course!", Finn said with a smile. "Slan go foill!"
     "Slan leath", Tara replied back. "Goodbye for now." she translated.

     They watched as Finn walked off the porch and onto the sidewalk. He got to street and turned and walked up the street. He was singing again in a deep baritone. Soon he was out of sight, but his song hung in the air for several minutes more.

The End.

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Web Warlock
web.warlock@attbi.com webwarlock@planetadnd.com
Author, the Netbooks of Witches and Warlocks
The Other Side: http://www.xtreme-gaming.com/~theotherside/
The DnD Community Council: http://www.dndcommunitycouncil.org/nbownw
--
"Nobody gets me baby. I'm the wind!" - Tom Servo, MST3k

[xita]

I love the idea of w/t being together through the ages.

[Web Warlock]

Yeah it was something I read in another fanfic, only W&T were Amazon priestesses. Then the other week I was doing some research on druids (for something else) and I came across the story of Finn and his two mothers and W&T popped into my head immediately.
The tricky part was trying to figure out who was who, finally I settled on Willow as Bodhmal and Tara as Liath. It comes into play later.

Here is a teaser for my next fic, “Ghost in the Machine”, which is still part of the “Queen of Darkness” arc.

Willow and Tara go computer shopping, Buffy visits her ex-boyfriend and an enemy from Willow’s past threatens to kill everyone.

So the same-old, same-old for our heroines.

Warlock.

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Web Warlock
web.warlock@attbi.com webwarlock@planetadnd.com
Author, the Netbooks of Witches and Warlocks
The Other Side: http://www.xtreme-gaming.com/~theotherside/
The DnD Community Council: http://www.dndcommunitycouncil.org/nbownw
--
"Nobody gets me baby. I'm the wind!" - Tom Servo, MST3k

[Garner]

Warlock asked me to run through this as well so here goes:

Comments on Queen of Darkness

Prologue:

Obviously the tense problems mentioned before still exist here. If you are trying to indicate that they are talking via telepathy then you should probably say something like “Willow’s voice echoed in her mind” or something like that. Maybe “Her lover replied inaudible to anyone but Willow.”

<“I don’t know yet. I am not done with the story yet.”> Here is a good example of repetition (the two “yet’s”) One of the other should be eliminated, I don’t think it matters which. You also should contract the “I am not done...” to “I’m not done...” that will sound more like a conversation.
Not “packaged up” but “packed up” in the last para.
This reads pretty well and the dialog is well done, be it mental or outloud. The story Tara tells seems like something she would relate, and except for tense problems and a few wording choices, this is good. A bit more foreshadowing might be nice, but...

Comments from 1a The Black Druid

Again you have repetition: “customer” in two adjacent sentences.
Willow’s first sentence does not seem like her “explaining” something to Anya, more of her trying to convince her. The conversation with Anya is not bad, but there are more errors in this part than most of the prologue. Again with the I’m instead of I am.
Good with Dawn, amusing with Anya, though I would think she is tough enough to make hard business decisions about when to spend cash and when not without getting sick. Instead of “You will” try “You’ll.”

< looked over to the restroom where Anya had disappeared to.> I would drop the last “to.”
The rest of the Willow, Anya, Dawn interplay is decent. Nice bit on Xander’s cooking skills. I like the idea that Dawn would start to resemble Anya a bit.
There are a lot of minor errors like thought instead of though.
I don’t know if I see Buffy as an English teacher, but it’s not a bad idea, she did well with it before she died and having her in the High School does seem like a good idea. On the other hand usually you have quite a bit of classes before you get to teach. Usually at least a year and a half.

Your description of the man in the alley is good, but you don’t describe much else besides him prior to this. Some sort of surrounding descriptions would probably be good.

< It was only because of her Slayer reactions that allowed her to escape with out injury.> This is a passive sentence that probably should be changed to something a bit more active like: “Only her Slayer reflexes allowed her to dodge the blow.” I would have liked a bit more description of the fight, but I like action.
I am little surprised Finn got past Buffy to hug Tara and Willow. I would think she would have stopped him.
Overall, the start is again a bit mundane with little foreshadowing to what is to come. The advent of Finn is interesting.

Part 1B.

Finn seems to have grasped the idea that he is in the future awfully quickly. That isn’t necessarily bad, sometimes people from the past are portrayed as too dense. On the other hand a comment on strange clothes or the bizare city might help to show us how he leapt to this conclusion.
Nice touch with Warlock=oath breaker/betrayers. Despite earlier comments on being too mundane, I do like Anya making Xander pick her up fried chicken for dinner, good touch.
You should start a new para with “Back at the Summer’s home Tara and Buffy were trying to find...” Also use “tried to find” unless something interupts the search, then “were” would be appropriate.
Finn’s dialog seems pretty well done for someone from an older period and yet not quite overdone either. Still lots of errors like one instead of once and with instead of without. It does get annoying. I know you are proofreading more now, good thing.
You do seem to have Buffy’s banter down pretty well, that is not easy. Again the action scene could stand a bit more descriptive flair to add some drama to it. More flavor text as it were.
Otherwise this part advances the plot fairly well, is interesting, and does a good job with the out of time character.

Next additional part.

Very funny having Finn comment that Buffy and Dawn are too thin (which is probably true) and something someone from that period would think.

Final section.

The Leanan Sidhe were described fairly well, you still need more background descirption. So these are effectively vampires who poof into dust when staked? I wouldn’t have thought so, but... It is cool that Buffy wasn’t charmed.

The battle with the Dark Druid is written much better. Easier to picture what is going on and has a good rhythm. The recovery of Tara’s spirit was also nicely done. After that though, you cover stuff awfully quickly in little detail. Maybe a bit on some of the recovery would be nice. Something seems off about the pacing there. The battle with the Druid was also too short and a bit anticlimatic. By contrast the goodbyes lasted much longer, though that was also well done.
I like that Finn did not disappear into the mists of time and stayed in the present. I also see him leaving and not staying. I would say that he was really your main character and you did a good job with him, very interesting and engaging. I liked the overall direction of the story. You definitely need to work on a more well rounded feel to the world around the characters, and some on pacing. Proofing is obviously needed. Cleaned up and re-worked a bit I think this could be excellent.
Garner

[Bobo's Mom]

Web Warlock -

I just caught up with this story, and must tell you how impressed I am with your writing. You captured the modern speech of the gang without sacrificing the tone of Finn's more formal language. This is a very creative work, and I'm pleased you asked our friend Garner to comment on it - otherwise, I would have missed it all together!

Also, where did you come accross the story of Finn on he web? That happens to be the name of my new nephew, and I would love to send my sister a web link or something. Feel free to e-mail me at DANIROOO@aol.com

Thanks again for such a well constructed story.
BM

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TARA: Willow and I always know how to find each other!
ANYA: With yoga?
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BUFFYBOT: That'll put marzipan in your pie plate, bingo!

[Web Warlock]

UPDATE

Due to various factors, including the way the storyline of Season 6 has progressed since Christmas and how it *seems* to be going, I am going to discontinue this story arc. Plus there was going to be some story lines that would have been too hard to write given some new information.

Sorry. But I have this thing, call it an obsessive/compulsive disorder, but I would like my fic to work with established canon.

So if any one wants to know where I was going with all of this, here are some tidbits.

- Anya was sick all the time because she is pregnant (morning sickness). It is a girl.
- Dawn is not a witch, but has developed psychic powers. This was supposed to get her closer to Tara as a teacher-student relationship, but make Willow jealous.
- Amy is not dead in my future, but she is in a convalescent center because the dark mojo fried her brain. Willow would visit her when she was depressed and take her brownies.
- Buffy was going to get increasingly more powerful, to point where she was becoming fearful of her own humanity.
- in one story someone hires an assassin to take out Willow and Tara. They don’t succeed obviously, but the same assassin does take out Rack in the first scene.
- Finn MacCumhail does come back after he has raised a new army.
- Alternate Faith and Alternate Tara come from the world I had in “Queen of Light”. Something (The Queen) has killed all the other scoobes and is now in this reality. That alternate world is called Penumbra because it is now constantly night.
- The Scoobes recruit a retired demon hunter to help. He lost his whole family to a powerful demon.

There were other ideas. Buffy having to make a deal with some demons to fight a more powerful foe. Anya trying to sell off all of Xander’s porn since they have a child on the way. She tries to sell some to Willow and Tara.

I might recycle some of this and other stuff I already wrote. But it wont be in this form.

Warlock.

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Web Warlock
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Author, the Netbooks of Witches and Warlocks
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--
"And remember, if you hurt her, I will beat you to death with a shovel.
A vague disclaimer is nobody's friend." - Willow.